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ELSIE    AT   HOME 


BY 

MARTHA  FINLEY 

AUTHOR  OF   "THE  ELSIE  BOOKS,"    "THE  MILDRED 
BOOKS,"    "WANTED,   A  PEDIGREE,"  ETC. 


f^  Jtf/c^^^    ^^^_ 


NEW  YORK 
DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Copyright,  1897, 

BY 

DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY. 


All  rights  reserved. 


THE  MERSHON  COMPANY  PRESS, 
RAHWAY,  N.   J. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME, 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  shades  of  evening  were  closing  in  upon 
a  stormy  March  day;  rain  and  sleet  falling  fast 
while  a  blustering  northeast  wind  sent  them 
sweeping  across  the  desolate-looking  fields  and 
gardens,  and  over  the  wet  road  where  a  hack 
was  lumbering  along,  drawn  by  two  weary-look- 
ing steeds;  its  solitary  passenger  sighing  and 
groaning  with  impatience  over  its  slow  progress 
and  her  own  fatigue. 

"  Driver/'  she  called,  "  are  we  ever  going  to 
arrive  at  Fairview?  " 

"  One  o'  these  days,  I  reckon,  ma'am,'* 
drawled  the  man  in  reply.  *'  It's  been  a  dread- 
ful tedious  ride  for  you,  but  a  trifle  worse  for 
me,  seein'  I  get  a  lot  more  o'  the  wet  out  here 
than  you  do  in  thar." 

"Yes,"  she  returned  in  a  tone  of  exaspera- 
tion, "  but  I  am  a  weak,  ailing  woman  and  you 


2  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

a  big,  strong  man,  used  to  exertion  and  ex- 
posure." The  sentence  ended  in  a  distressing 
fit  of  coughing  that  seemed  to  shake  her  whole 
frame. 

"Im  right  sorry  fur  ye,  ma'am,''  he  said, 
turning  a  pitying  glance  upon  her,  "but  just 
hold  on  a  bit  longer  and  we'll  be  there.  We're 
e'n  a'most  in  sight  o'  the  place  now.  Kjn  o' 
yourn  and  expecting  ye,  I  s'pose  ?  " 

''It  is  the  home  of  my  daughter — my  only 
child,"  she  returned,  bridling,  "  and  it  will  be 
strange  indeed  if  she  is  not  glad  to  see  the 
mother  whom  she  has  not  seen  for  years." 

"  Surely,  ma'am;  and  yonder's  the  house. 
We'll  be  there  in  five  minutes — more  or  less." 

His  passenger  looked  eagerly  in  the  direction 
indicated. 

''A  large  house,  isn't  it?"  she  queried. 
''  One  can't  see  much  out  of  this  little  pane  of 
glass  and  through  the  rain  and  mist." 

"It's  a  fine  place,  ma'am,  and  a  good,  big 
house,"  he  returned.  "  I  wouldn't  mind  ownin' 
such  a  pkce  myself.  It's  grand  in  the  summer 
time,  and  not  so  bad  to  look  at  even  now 
through  all  this  storm  o'  mist,  hail,  and  rain." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  8 

**■  Yes;  I  dare  say,"  she  said,  shivering;  "  and 
if  it  was  little  better  than  a  hovel  I'd  be  glad 
to  reach  it  and  get  out  of  this  chilling  wind. 
It  penetrates  to  one's  very  bones." 

She  drew  her  cloak  closer  about  her  as  she 
spoke,  and  as  the  hack  turned  in  at  the  avenue 
gates  took  up  her  satchel  and  umbrella  in  evi- 
dent haste  to  alight. 

In  the  home-like  parlour  of  the  mansion  they 
were  approaching  sat  a  lovely-looking  lady  of 
mature  years,  a  little  group  of  children  gathered 
about  her  listening  intently  and  with  great 
interest  to  a  story  she  was  telling  them,  while 
a  sweet-faced  young  girl,  sitting  near  with  a  bit 
of  tatting  in  her  hands,  seemed  an  equally 
interested  hearer,  ready  to  join  in  the  outburst 
of  merriment  that  now  and  again  greeted  some- 
thing in  the  narrative. 

"  There  is  a  hack  coming  up  the  avenue,  Eva. 
Can  we  be  going  to  have  a  visitor  this  stormy 
day? "  suddenly  exclaimed  the  eldest  boy, 
glancing  out  of  the  window  near  where  he 
stood.  "  Yes,  it  has  come  to  a  standstill  at  the 
foot  of  the  veranda  steps,  and  the  driver  seems 
to  be  getting  ready  to  help  someone  out." 


4  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"A  lady!  Why,  who  can  she  be?"  cried 
EriC;,  the  next  in  age,  as  the  hack  door  was 
thrown  open  and  the  driver  assisted  his  passen- 
ger to  alight,  while  Evelyn  laid  down  her  work 
and  hastened  into  the  hall  to  greet  and  welcome 
the  guest,  whoever  she  might  be;  for  the  Fair- 
view  family,  like  nearly  every  other  in  that 
region  of  country,  was  exceedingly  hospitable. 

A  servant  had  already  opened  the  outer  door 
and  now  another  stepped  forward  to  take  the 
lady's  satchel  and  umbrella. 

"  Who  can  she  be  ?  "  Evel3^n  asked  herself  as 
she  hastily  crossed  the  veranda  and  held  out  a 
welcoming  hand  with  a  word  or  two  of  pleasant 
greeting. 

"Is  it  you,  Evelyn?"  asked  the  stranger  in 
tones  that  trembled  with  emotion.  "  And  do 
you  not  know  me — your  own  mother!  " 

"  Mother;  oh,  mother,  can  it  be  you?  "  cried 
Evelyn,  catching  the  stranger  in  her  arms 
and  holding  her  fast  with  sobs  and  tears 
and  kisses.  "  I  had  not  heard  from  you  for 
so  long,  and  have  been  feeling  as  if  I  should 
never  see  you  again.  And  oh,  how  thin  and 
weak  you  look!     You  are  sick,  mother! "  she 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  5 

added  in  tones  of  grief  and  anxiety,  as  she  drew 
her  into  the  hall,  where  by  this  time  the  rest  of 
the  family — Grandma  Elsie,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leland  and  their  children — were  gathered. 

"Sister  Laura!  is  it  possible!  Welcome  to 
Fairview,"  was  Mrs.  Leland's  greeting,  accom- 
panied by  a  warm  embrace. 

"  Laura!  we  did  not  even  know  you  were  in 
America!  "  Mr.  Leland  said,  grasping  her  hand 
in  brotherly  fashion.  "  And  how  weary  and  ill 
you  are  looking!  Let  me  help  you  off  with 
your  bonnet  and  cloak  and  to  a  couch  here  in 
the  parlour." 

"  Thank  you;  yes,  I'll  be  very  glad  to  lie 
down,  for  I'm  worn  out  with  my  journey  and 
this  troublesome  cough,"  she  said,  struggling 
with  a  renewed  paroxysm  and  gasping  for 
breath.     "  But  my  luggage  and " 

'^  We'll  attend  to  all  that,"  he  said,  half  carry- 
ing her  to  the  couch  where  his  wife  and  her 
mother  were  arranging  the  pillows  for  her  com- 
fort, and  laying  her  gently  down  upon  it. 

"  Oh,  mother;  my  poor  dear  mother!  "  sighed 
Evelyn,  as  she  leaned  over  her,  smoothing  her 
hair  with  caressing  hand,  "  it  breaks  my  heart 


6  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

to  see  you  looking  so  weary  and  ill.  But  we 
will  soon  nurse  you  back  to  health  and  strength 
— uncle  and  aunt  and  I." 

"  I  hope  so,  indeed/'  Mrs.  Leland  said  in  her 
sweet,  gentle  tones.  *^  You  have  had  most  un- 
pleasant weather  for  your  journey,  Laura,  so 
that  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  you  are  ex- 
hausted. You  must  have  some  refreshment  at 
once,"  and  with  the  last  word  she  hastened 
away  in  search  of  it. 

"  And  here  is  something  to  relieve  that  dread- 
ful cough,"  said  Mrs.  Travilla,  presenting  her- 
self with  a  delicate  china  cup  in  her  hand. 

Evelyn  introduced  the  two  ladies,  and  her 
mother,  being  assured  that  the  cup  contained 
nothing  unpleasant  to  the  taste,  quickly  swal- 
lowed its  contents,  then  lay  back  quietly  upon 
her  pillows,  still  keeping  fast  hold  of  her  daugh- 
ter's hand,  while  Grandma  Elsie,  giving  the  cup 
to  a  servant  to  carry  away,  resumed  her  easy 
chair  on  the  farther  side  of  the  room — near 
enough  to  be  ready  to  render  assistance  should 
it  be  needed,  yet  not  so  near  as  to  interfere  with 
any  private  talk  between  the  long  separated 
mother  and  daughter — and  her  grandchildren 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  7 

again  gathered  about  her.  But  they  seemed 
awed  into  silence  by  the  presence  of  the  stran- 
ger invalid,  whom  they  gazed  upon  with  pitying 
curiosity,  while  her  attention  seemed  equally 
occupied  with  them. 

"  Your  uncle's  children?  '^  she  asked  of  Eve- 
lyn in  a  tone  scarcely  louder  than  a  whisper. 

"  Yes,  mamma.  Edward,  the  eldest,  you  saw 
when  he  was  a  mere  baby  boy.  Eric,  the  next, 
is  papa's  namesake.  The  eldest  of  the  little 
girls — she  is  in  her  fifth  year — is  Elsie  Alicia, 
named  for  her  two  grandmothers;  we  call  her 
Alie.  And  the  youngest — that  two-year-old 
darling — we  call  Vi.  She  is  named  for  her 
aunt,  Mrs.  Raymond." 

"And  Mrs.  Travilla  lives  here  with  her 
daughter?" 

"  No;  she  is  paying  a  visit  of  a  few  days,  as 
she  often  does  since  her  daughter-in-law.  Aunt 
Zoe,  has  undertaken  the  most  of  the  house- 
keeping at  Ion." 

"  She  certainly  looks  very  young  to  be  mother 
and  grandmother  to  so  many,"  sighed  the  in- 
valid, catching  sight  of  her  own  sallow,  prema- 
turely wrinkled  face  reflected  in  a  large  mirror 


8  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room.  "  But  she 
has  had  an  easy  hfe^  surrounded  by  kind,  affec- 
tionate, sympathising  friends,  while  I — miser- 
able woman  that  I  am — have  been  worried, 
brow-beaten,  robbed,  till  nothing  is  left  me  but 
ill-health  and  grinding  poverty." 

"  Mother,  mother  dear,  don't  talk  so  while  I 
am  left  you  and  have  enough  to  keep  us  both, 
with  care  and  economy,''  entreated  Evelyn  in  a 
voice  half  choked  with  sobs.  "It  will  be  joy 
to  me  to  share  with  you  and  do  all  I  can  to 
make  your  last  days  comfortable  and  happy." 

"  Then  you  haven't  lost  all  your  love  for  your 
mother  in  our  years  of  separation?" 

"No,  no  indeed!"  answered  Evelyn  ear- 
nestly. But  there  the  conversation  ended  for 
the  time,  Mrs.  Leland  returning  with  the 
promised  refreshment.  It  seemed  to  give  some 
strength  to  the  invalid,  and  after  taking  it  she 
was,  by  her  own  request,  assisted  to  her  room, 
an  apartment  opening  into  that  of  her  daugh- 
ter, with  whose  good  help  she  was  soon  made 
ready  for  her  bed,  the  most  comfortable  she  had 
lain  upon  for  weeks  or  months,  she  remarked, 
as  she  stretched  her  tired  limbs  upon  it. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  0 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  find  it  so,  mother  dear/' 
said  Evelyn.  "  And  now,  if  you  like,  I  will  un- 
pack your  trunks  and  arrange  their  contents  in 
wardrobe,  bureau  drawers,  and  closet." 

"  There  is  no  hurry  about  that,  and  isn't  that 
your  supper  bell  I  hear?  " 

"Yes'm,  suppah's  on  de  table,  an'  I's  come 
to  set  yere  and  'tend  to  you  uns  while  Miss 
Eva  gwine  eat  wif  de  res'  of  de  folks,"  said  a 
neatly  dressed,  pleasant-faced,  elderly  coloured 
woman,  who  had  entered  the  room  just  in  time 
to  hear  the  query  in  regard  to  the  bell.  "  But, 
missus.  Miss  Elsie  she  tole  me  for  to  ax  you 
could  you  take  somethin'  mo'  ?  " 

"  She  says  Aunt  Elsie  wants  to  know  could 
you  eat  something  more,  mother  dear?"  ex- 
plained Eva,  seeing  a  puzzled  look  on  her 
mother's  face. 

"  Oh,  no!  that  excellent  broth  fully  satisfied 
my  appetite,"  replied  Laura.  "  Go  and  get 
your  supper,  Eva,  child,  but  come  back  when 
you  have  finished;  for  we  have  been  so  long 
separated  that  now  I  can  hardly  bear  to  have 
you  out  of  my  sight." 

"  Oh,  mother,  how  sweet  to  hear  you  say 


10  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

that! ''  exclaimed  Evelyn,  bending  down  to  be- 
stow another  ardent  caress  upon  her  newly  re- 
stored parent.  "  Indeed,  I  shall  not  stay  away 
a  moment  longer  than  necessary." 

The  new  arrival  and  her  sad  condition  were 
the  principal  topics  of  conversation  at  the  table. 

"  I  am  so  glad  we  have  such  a  good  doctor  in 
Cousin  Arthur/'  said  Evelyn.  '^  I  hope  he  can 
cure  mamma's  cough.  I  wish  the  weather 
was  such  that  we  could  reasonably  ask  him  to 
come  and  see  her  to-night/'  she  added  with  a 
sigh. 

"  Yes/'  said  her  uncle,  "  but  as  it  is  so  bad  I 
think  we  will  just  give  him  a  full  account  of 
her  symptoms  and  ask  his  advice  through  the 
telephone.  Then  he  will  tell  us  what  would 
better  be  done  to-night,  and  call  in  to  see  her 
to-morrow  morning." 

The  ladies  all  agreed  that  that  would  be  the 
better  plan  and  it  was  presently  carried  out. 
The  doctor  would  have  come  at  once,  in  spite 
of  the  storm,  had  it  seemed  necessary,  but  from 
the  account  given  he  deemed  it  not  so. 

"I  will  come  directly  after  breakfast  to- 
morrow morning,"  he  concluded,  after  giving 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  H 

his  advice  in  regard  to  what  should  be  done 
immediately. 

"  That  is  satisfactory;  and  now  I  will  go  at 
once  to  mamma  and  carry  out  his  directions  for 
to-night,"  said  Evelyn. 

"  Kemembering  that  we  are  all  ready  to  assist 
in  any  and  every  possible  way,"  added  her 
uncle,  smiling  kindly  upon  her. 

"  Yes,  indeed! "  said  Grandma  Elsie;  "  and 
you  must  not  hesitate  to  call  upon  me  if  you 
need  help." 

"  No,  no,  mother  dear.  I  put  my  veto  upon 
that!  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Leland.  "You  are  not 
a  really  old-looking  woman  yet,  but  are  not  as 
vigorous  as  you  were  some  years  ago,  and  I  can- 
not afford  to  let  you  run  any  risk  of  diminish- 
ing your  stock  of  health  and  strength  by  loss  of 
sleep  or  over-exertion.  Call  upon  me,  Eva, 
should  you  need  any  assistance." 

"  Very  well,  daughter,  I  shall  not  insist  upon 
the  privilege  of  losing  sleep,"  returned  Grand- 
ma Elsie  with  a  smile,  "  but  may  perhaps  be 
permitted  to  make  myself  slightly  useful  dur- 
ing the  day." 

"Yes,  slightly,  mother  dear,  and  at  such 


12  ELSIE  AT  HOME, 

time  as  you  would  not  be  otherwise  improving 
by  taking  needed  rest  or  recreation,"  Mrs.  Le- 
land  replied  as  she  hastened  away  with  Eva, 
with  the  purpose  to  make  sure  that  her  newly 
arrived  guest  lacked  for  nothing  which  she 
could  provide. 

^^  At  last,  Evelyn,  child!  I  suppose  you  have 
not  been  long  gone,  but  it  seemed  so  to  my  im- 
patience," was  Laura's  salutation  as  Eva  re- 
entered her  room. 

"It  is  sweet  to  hear  you  say  that,  mother 
dear;  sweet  to  know  that  you  love  me  so,"  Eve- 
lyn said  in  moved  tones,  bending  down  to  press 
a  kiss  on  the  wan  cheek,  "  and  I  mean  to  fairly 
surfeit  you  with  my  company  in  the  days  and 
weeks  that  he  before  us." 

"  And  she  only  waited  with  the  rest  of  us  to 
consult  our  good  doctor  for  you,  Laura," 
added  Mrs.  Leland.  "  He  has  prescribed  a 
sleeping  potion  for  to-night,  and  will  call  to 
see  you  and  prescribe  further  in  the  morning." 

"  I  think  I  should  have  been  consulted,"  re- 
turned the  invalid  in  a  tone  of  irritation;  "  my 
money  is  all  gone  and  he  may  never  get  his 

pay." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME,  13 

"  Oh,  don't  trouble  about  that! ''  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Leland  and  Evelyn  in  a  breath,  the  former 
adding,  "  His  charges  are  not  heavy  and  it  will 
be  strange  indeed  if  we  cannot  find  a  way  to 
meet  and  defray  them/' 

"  Of  course  we  can  and  will,  and  you  are 
not  to  concern  yourself  any  more  about  it, 
mamma,"  added  Evelyn  in  a  tone  of  playful 
authority.  "  What  would  be  the  use  when  you 
have  a  tolerably  rich,  grown-up  daughter,  whose 
principal  business  and  pleasure  it  will  be  to 
take  care  of  and  provide  for  her  long-lost,  but 
now  happily  recovered  mother.  And  here 
comes  uncle  with  your  sleeping  potion,"  she 
added,  as  Mr.  Leland  at  that  moment  appeared 
in  the  doorway,  cup  in  hand. 

"  Here  is  something  which  I  hope  will  quiet 
your  cough,  Laura,"  he  said,  coming  to  the  bed- 
side. "  It  is  not  bad  to  take,  either,  and  will 
be  likely  to  secure  you  a  good  night's  rest." 

"I  don't  know,"  she  returned  doubtfully, 
eyeing  the  cup  with  evident  disfavour,  "  I  was 
never  good  at  dosing." 

^*^You  prefer  lying  awake,  racked  with  that 
distressing  cough?" 


14  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  No,"  she  sighed,  taking  the  cup  from  his 
hand,  "  even  quite  a  bad  dose  would  be  better 
than  that.  And  it  was  not  so  bad  after  all," 
she  concluded  as  she  returned  the  cup,  after 
swallowing  its  contents. 

"  Glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  he  said  in  reply. 
"  And  now  take  my  further  advice — lie  still  and 
go  to  sleep,  leaving  all  the  talk  with  Eva  till 
to-morrow.  Good-night  to  you  both."  And 
he  left  the  room,  followed  presently  by  his  wife, 
who  lingered  only  until  she  had  made  sure  that 
all  the  wants  of  the  invalid  were  fully  supplied. 

Laura  had  already  fallen  into  a  sweet  sleep, 
under  the  soothing  influence  of  the  draught, 
and  Eva  presently  stretched  herself  beside  her, 
and  with  a  heart  filled  with  contending  emo- 
tions— love  for  this  her  only  remaining  parent, 
joy  in  their  reunion,  sorrow  and  care  in  view  of 
her  evident  exhaustion  and  ill-health,  and  plans 
for  making  her  remaining  days  happy — lay 
awake  for  a  time  silently  asking  for  guidance 
and  help  from  on  high,  then  fell  into  dreamless, 
refreshing  sleep. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Morning  found  the  invalid  somewhat  re- 
freshed by  her  night's  rest,  yet  too  languid  and 
feeble  to  leave  her  room,  and  her  day  was  spent 
reclining  upon  a  couch,  with  her  daughter  by 
her  side.  Dr.  Conly  made  an  early  call,  pre- 
scribed, talked  to  her  and  Eva  in  a  cheerful 
strain,  saying  he  hoped  that  rest  and  a  change 
of  weather  would  soon  bring  her  at  least  a  meas- 
ure of  relief  and  strength;  but  in  reply  to  the 
anxious  questioning  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leland,  he 
acknowledged  that  he  found  her  far  gone  in 
consumption,  and  did  not  think  she  could  last 
many  weeks. 

"Poor  dear  Eva!  how  very  sad  it  will  be  for 
her  to  lose  her  mother  so  soon  after  recovering 
her! ''  sighed  Mrs.  Leland.  "  I  think  we  must 
let  her  remain  in  ignorance  of  the  danger  for  a 
time  at  least." 

"Yes,"  assented  her  husband;  "though  we 
must  not  neglect  any  effort  in  our  power  to  pre- 

15 


16  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

pare  Laura  for  the  great  change  which  awaits 
her,"  he  added  with  a  look  of  anxiety  and 
care. 

"  Nor  fail  to  offer  up  earnest  petitions  for  her 
at  the  Throne  of  Grace/'  said  Grandma  Elsie, 
in  her  low,  sweet  tones.  "  Oh,  what  a  hlessing, 
what  a  comfort  it  is  that  we  may  take  there  all 
our  fears,  cares,  and  anxieties  for  ourselves  and 
others!  And  how  precious  the  Saviour's 
promise,  ^  If  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as 
touching  anything  that  you  shall  ask,  it  shall 
be  done  for  you  of  my  Father  which  is  in 
heaven '  ! " 

"Yes,  mother  dear,"  assented  Mrs.  Leland, 
"  and  we  will  claim  and  plead  it  for  our  poor 
dear  Laura,  and  for  Eva,  that  she  may  be  sus- 
tained under  the  bereavement  wliich  awaits 
her." 

"  Yes,"  said  Dr.  Conly,  "  and  there  are  many 
of  our  friends  who  will  be  ready  to  join  us 
in  the  petition.  I  am  going  now  to  Woodbum 
— the  captain  having  telephoned  me  that  one  of 
the  servants  is  ill — and  we  all  know  that  he  and 
his  will  be  full  of  sympathy  for  Eva  and  her 
eick  mother." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  17 

"  No  doubt  they  will,"  said  Grandma  Elsie, 
"  both  as  Christians  and  as  warm  friends  of 
Evelyn.  And  it  will  be  quite  the  same  with 
our  other  friends." 

With  that  the  doctor  bade  good-morning  and 
took  his  departure  in  the  direction  of  Wood- 
burn.  The  family  there  were  surprised  and 
interested  by  the  news  he  had  to  tell  of  the 
airival  at  Fairview,  and  of  Laura's  feeble  and 
ailing  condition.  They  were  evidently  full  of 
sympathy  for  both  mother  and  daughter,  and 
had  any  help  been  needed  would  have  given  it 
gladly.  But  the  doctor  assured  them  that  rest 
and  quiet  were  at  present  the  sick  one's  most 
pressing  need. 

"  Poor  dear  Eva!  I  am  so  sorry  for  her! " 
sighed  Lucilla  when  the  doctor  had  gone. 
"  Papa,  don't  you  think  I  might  make  myself  of 
use  helping  her  with  the  nursing?" 

"Not  at  present,  daughter;  though  I  can 
testify  to  your  ability  in  that  line,  and  your 
services  may  possibly  be  needed  at  some  future 
time/'  he  answered  with  an  affectionate  look 
and  smile. 

"Yes,  Lu  is  a  capital  nurse,  I  think,"  said 


18  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

Violet,  "  but  whatever  she  does  is  sure  to  be 
well  done/' 

"  Thank  you,  Mamma  Vi/'  returned  the 
young  girl,  blushing  with  pleasure;  "  it  is  most 
kind  in  you  to  say  that;  but  if  I  am  thorough 
in  anything,  most  of  the  credit  belongs  to  my 
father,  who  has  never  allowed  me  to  content 
myself  with  a  slovenly  performance  of  my 
duties." 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  what  is  worth  doing  at  all 
is  worth  doing  well;  that  is  a  lesson  I  have  en- 
deavoured to  impress  upon  each  one  of  my  chil- 
dren, and  one  which  I  think  they  have  all 
learned  pretty  thoroughly." 

"  And  they  have  always  had  the  teaching  of 
example  as  well  as  precept,  from  their  father," 
remarked  Violet  with  a  look  of  loving  apprecia- 
tion up  into  his  face;  "  so  that  it  would  be 
strange  indeed  if  they  had  not  learned  it." 

"Indeed  that  is  true,  mamma,"  said  Grace. 
"  It  does  seem  to  me  that  papa  does  everything 
he  undertakes  as  thoroughly  well  as  anyone  pos- 
sibly could." 

"  A  very  good  idea  for  one's  children  to  cul- 
tivate," laughed  the  captain.     Then  consulting 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  19 

his  watch,  "  But  it  is  high  time  we  were  in  the 
schoolroom,  daughters.  Elsie  and  Ned  have 
been  there  this  half  hour,  and  probably  have  a 
lesson  or  two  ready  to  recite." 

"  And  Eva  will  not  be  with  us  to-day;  prob- 
ably not  for  many  more  days,"  remarked  Lu- 
cilla  with  a  slight  sigh  of  disappointment  and 
regret,  as  she  and  Grace  rose  and  gave  prompt 
obedience  to  her  father's  implied  order. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  fear  so;  but  her  first  duty 
is  to  her  mother." 

So  Evelyn  herself  felt,  and  nobly  she  dis- 
charged it;  neglecting  nothing  in  her  power  for 
the  relief  and  enjoyment  of  the  invalid  who, 
though  often  fretful,  exacting,  and  unreason- 
able, was  yet  nearest  and  dearest  to  her  of  all 
earthly  creatures.  The  young  girFs  loving  pa- 
tience seemed  never  to  fail,  and  her  heart  was 
continually  going  up  in  earnest,  silent  petitions 
that  her  beloved  parent  might  be  made  meet 
for  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light;  that 
she  might  learn  to  love  Him  who  had  died  to 
redeem  her  from  death  and  the  power  of  the 
grave,  and  to  give  her  an  abundant  entrance 
into  his  kingdom  and  glory. 


^0  ELSIE  AT  UOM&. 

The  doubt  of  Laura's  preparation  for  death 
and  eternity,  amounting  to  almost  certainty 
that  it  was  lacking,  made  this  nursing  an  even 
sadder  one  than  had  been  that  of  Eric,  Evelyn's 
father,  years  ago.  To  him  talk  of  things 
heavenly  and  divine  had  ever  seemed  easy  and 
natural,  and  with  the  certainty  that  he  was 
passing  away  from  earth  came  the  full  assurance 
that  he  was  ready  to  de]  art  and  be  with  Christ 
in  glory. 

But  Laura  hastily  repelled  the  slightest  allu- 
sion to  eternity  and  a  preparation  for  it.  Eve- 
lyn's only  consolation  was  in  the  knowledge  that 
others  were  uniting  their  earnest  petitions  with 
hers,  and  that  God  is  the  hearer  and  answerer 
of  prayer. 

It  was  Grandma  Elsie  who  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  speaking  a  word  in  season  to  the 
dying  woman. 

"  Oh,  this  racking  cough!  Shall  I  never  be 
done  with  it?"  gasped  Laura,  as  she  lay  pant- 
ing upon  her  pillow  after  an  unusually  severe 
and  exhausting  paroxysm. 

"  Yes;  when  you  reach  the  other  side  of  Jor- 
dan; for  there  in  that  blessed  land  the  inhab- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  21 

itant  shall  not  say  *^I  am  sick/''  returned  Grand- 
ma Elsie  in  low,  sympathising  tones.  "  The 
Bible  tells  us  that  '  God  shall  wipe  away  all 
tears  from  their  eyes;  and  there  shall  be  no 
more  death,  neither  sorrow  nor  crying,  neither 
shall  there  be  any  more  pain/  " 

"  Oh,  but  I  am  not  fit  for  that  place  yet! " 
exclaimed  Laura  with  a  look  of  alarm,  "  and  I 
don't  want  to  die  for  years  to  come,  though  it 
is  hard  to  suffer  as  I  do.  You  don't  think  I'm 
a  dying  woman,  Mrs.  Travilla  ?  " 

^^  You  know,  dear  friend,  that  no  one  of  us 
is  certain  of  life  for  a  day  or  an  hour,"  returned 
Grandma  Elsie  gently,  taking  the  wasted  hand 
in  hers  and  gazing  tenderly  into  the  anxious, 
troubled  face,  "  and  surely  it  is  the  part  of  wis- 
dom to  make  careful  preparation  for  that  which 
we  must  inevitably  meet,  sooner  or  later.  And 
if  our  peace  is  made  with  God — if  Jesus  is  our 
Friend  and  Saviour — it  will  only  be  joy  un- 
speakable to  be  called  into  his  immediate  pres- 
ence, there  to  dwell  forevermore." 

*'  Yes,  yes,  if  one  is  fitted  for  it,  as  Eric,  Eva's 
father,  was.  Death  seemed  only  joy  to  him, 
except  for  leaving  us.     But  oh,  I  ani  afraid  of 


22  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

death!  Hard  as  life  is  in  my  weak,  ailing  con- 
dition, I  don't  want  to  die,  I  can't  bear  to  think 
of  it." 

"  My  poor  friend,  my  heart  bleeds  for  you," 
said  Grandma  Elsie  in  low,  tender  tones. 
"  '  The  sting  of  death  is  sin  and  the  strength  of 
sin  is  the  law.'  But  ^  Christ  is  the  end  of  the 
law  for  righteousness  to  everyone  that  believeth/ 
He  fulfilled  its  conditions,  he  bore  the  penalty 
God's  justice  required  against  those  who  had 
broken  it;  and  now  salvation  is  offered  as  his 
free  gift  to  all  who  will  accept  it:  ^  Even  the 
righteousness  of  God  which  is  by  faith  of  Jesus 
Christ  unto  all  and  upon  all  them  that  believe: 
for  there  is  no  difference:  For  all  have  sinned, 
and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God;  Being  jus- 
tified freely  by  his  grace  through  the  redemp- 
tion that  is  in  Christ  Jesus:  Whom  God  hath 
set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in 
his  blood,  to  declare  his  righteousness  for  the 
remission  of  sins  that  are  past,  through  the  for- 
bearance of  God;  To  declare,  I  say,  at  this  time 
his  righteousness:  that  he  might  be  just  and 
the  justifier  of  him  which  believeth  in  Jesus.' " 

"Is  that  all?    only  to  believe  in  Jesus? '^ 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  23 

Laura  asked  with  a  look  of  mingled  anxiety, 
hope,  and  fear.  ^'  But  one  must  repent  deeply, 
sincerely,  and  oh,  I'm  afraid  I  cannot!  " 

"  He  will  help  you,"  returned  Grandma  Elsie 
in  moved  tones.  " '  Him  hath  God  exalted 
with  his  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince  and  a 
Saviour,  for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and 
forgiveness  of  sins.'  Ask  him,  remembering 
his  own  gracious  promise,  ^  Ask  and  it  shall 
be  given  you;  seek  and  ye  shall  find;  knock 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you.  For  every- 
one that  asketh  receiveth;  and  he  that  seeketh 
findeth;  and  to  him  that  knocketh  it  shall  be 
opened.' " 

"  Ah,  I  see  the  way  as  I  never  did  before," 
said  Laura,  after  a  moment's  silence  in  which 
she  seemed  in  deep  thought.  "  What  wonder- 
ful love  and  condescension  it  was  for  him,  the 
God-man,  to  die  that  painful  and  shameful 
death  that  we — sinful  worms  of  the  dust — 
might  live!  Oh,  I  do  begin  to  love  him  and  to 
hate  and  abhor  my  sins  that  helped  nail  him  to 
the  tree."  With  the  last  words  tears  coursed 
down  her  cheeks.  "  I  want  to  be  his,  whether  I 
live  or  die/'  she  added;  and  from  that  hour  a 


24  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

great  change  came  over  her;  her  sufferings 
were  borne  with  patience  and  resignation;  and 
when  the  end  came  she  passed  peacefully  and 
quietly  away,  leaving  her  bereaved  daughter 
mourning  the  separation,  but  not  as  those  with- 
out hope  of  a  blessed  reunion  at  some  future 
day,  in  that  land  where  sin  and  sorrow,  sickness 
and  pain  are  unknown. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Through  all  the  six  long  weeks  of  her 
mother's  illness  at  Fairview  Evelyn  had  been  a 
most  devoted,  tender  nurse,  scarcely  leaving  the 
sick  room  for  an  hour  by  day  or  by  night.  She 
bore  up  wonderfully  until  all  was  over  and  the 
worn-out  body  laid  to  rest  in  the  quiet  grave; 
but  then  came  the  reaction;  strength  and 
energy  seemed  suddenly  to  forsake  her,  and 
thin,  pale,  sad,  and  heavy-eyed,  she  was  but  the 
shadow  of  her  former  self. 

Change  of  air  and  scene  was  the  doctor's  pre- 
scription. She  was  very  reluctant  to  leave 
home  and  friends  for  a  sojourn  in  new  scenes 
and  among  strangers,  but  receiving  an  urgent 
invitation  from  Captain  and  Mrs.  Raymond  to 
spend  some  weeks  at  Woodburn  with  her  loved 
friend  Lucilla,  and  finding  that  her  uncle  and 
aunt — Dr.  Conly  also — highly  approved,  she 
gladly  accepted;  all  the  more  so  because  she 

had  learned  that  Grandma  Elsie  too,  whom  she 
fa 


26  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

loved  even  better  than  ever  for  her  kindness  to 
the  dear  departed,  was  about  to  spend  some 
days  or  weeks  with  her  daughter  Violet.  That 
was  an  added  attraction  to  what  Evelyn 
esteemed  one  of  the  most  delightful  places,  and 
inhabited  by  the  dearest,  kindest,  most  lovable 
people  anywhere  to  be  found. 

She  was  most  heartily  welcomed  by  the  entire 
family,  Lucilla  and  Grace  being  particularly 
joyful  over  her  arrival. 

It  was  delightful  spring  weather,  and  family 
and  guests,  older  and  younger,  spent  much  of 
the  time  in  the  beautiful  grounds  or  in  driving 
and  riding  about  the  country. 

The  captain  pronounced  Eva  hardly  in  a  fit 
condition  for  study,  and  for  her  sake  required 
his  daughters  Lucilla  and  Grace  to  pass  only  an 
hour  or  two  daily  in  the  schoolroom;  so  that 
they  were  able  to  give  to  Eva  as  much  of  their 
society  as  he  considered  desirable  for  her  under 
the  circumstances — seeing  that  she  needed  a 
good  deal  of  quiet  rest  and  sleep  in  order  to 
regain  the  youthful  vigour  she  had  lost  during 
the  exhausting  nursing  of  her  invalid  mother. 

His  kindness  was  highly  appreciated  by  all 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  27 

three,  and  under  its  benign  influence  Eva  made 
rapid  improvement  in  health  and  spirits,  enjoy- 
ing every  day  of  her  sojourn  at  Woodburn,  the 
Sabbath  even  more  than  any  other,  especially 
the  afternoon  study  of  the  Bible  in  which  all 
took  part,  from  Grandma  Elsie  and  Captain 
Raymond  down  to  little  Ned. 

The  subject  chosen  for  the  first  lesson  after 
Eva's  coming  was  the  resurrection,  probably 
selected  especially  for  Eva's  comfort  in  her  sor- 
row over  her  mother's  recent  departure,  to  be 
with  her  no  more  in  this  life. 

"  Mother,"  the  captain  said,  addressing 
Grandma  Elsie,  when  they  were  all  seated,  each 
with  a  Bible  in  hand,  "  as  you  are  somewhat 
older  and  certainly  much  wiser  than  I — espe- 
cially as  regards  spiritual  things — will  you  not 
take  the  lead  to-day?" 

"  Older  I  certainly  am,"  returned  Mrs.  Tra- 
villa,  with  her  own  sweet  smile,  "but  I  think 
not  wiser  than  yourself,  captain;  and  certainly 
I  have  not  made  the  preparation  for  this  occa- 
sion which  doubtless  you  have.  So  please  lead 
the  exercises  just  as  you  would  if  I  were  not 
present." 


28  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"You  would  prefer  my  doing  so?"  he 
asked. 

"  Very  much/'  she  replied.  "  The  resurrec- 
tion is  the  subject?  " 

"Yes;  and  what  a  glorious  one!  how  full  of 
comfort  for  all  who  believe  in  Christ!  ^  For  I 
know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he 
shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth; 
and  though  after  my  death  my  body  is  de- 
stroyed, yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God;  whom  I 
shall  see  for  myself  and  mine  eyes  shall  behold, 
and  not  another/  said  the  patriarch  Job;  com- 
forting himself  in  his  affliction  with  that 
blessed  prospect.  The  doctrine  of  a  general 
resurrection  is  expressly  taught  in  both  the  Old 
Testament  and  the  New,  and  I  think  we  can- 
not spend  our  lesson  hour  more  profitably  than 
in  looking  up  the  texts  on  the  subject.  Can 
you  give  us  one,  mother?  " 

At  that  Grandma  Elsie  opened  her  Bible. 

"  Beginning  with  the  Old  Testament/'  she 
said,  "here  in  Psalms  xlix.  15  we  read:  'But  God 
will  redeem  my  soul  from  the  power  of  the 
grave:  for  he  shall  receive  me.  Selah.'  Then 
here  in  Isaiah;  '  Thy  dead  men  shall  live,  to- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  29 

gether  with  my  dead  body  shall  they  arise. 
Awake  and  sing,  ye  that  dwell  in  dust:  for  thy 
dew  is  as  the  dew  of  herbs,  and  the  earth  shall 
cast  out  the  dead/ '' 

Then  Violet,  sitting  next,  read  from  her  opep 
Bible:  "  ^  The  same  day  came  to  him  the  Sad- 
ducees,  which  say  that  there  is  no  resurrection, 
and  asked  him,  saying.  Master,  Moses  said,  if  a 
man  die,  having  no  children,  his  brother  shall 
marry  his  wife,  and  raise  up  seed  unto  his 
brother.  Now  there  were  with  us  seven  breth- 
ren: and  the  first,  when  he  had  married  a  wife, 
deceased,  and  having  no  issue,  left  his  wife  unto 
his  brother:  likewise  the  second  also,  and  the 
third  unto  the  seventh.  And  last  of  all  the 
woman  died  also.  Therefore  in  the  resurrec- 
tion, whose  wife  shall  she  be?  for  they  all  had 
her.  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them.  Ye  do 
err,  not  knowing  the  Scriptures,  nor  the  power 
of  God.  For  in  the  resurrection  they  neither 
marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  but  are  as  the 
angels  of  God  in  heaven.  But  as  touching  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  have  ye  not  read  that 
which  was  spoken  unto  you  by  God,  saying,  I 
am  the  God  of  Abraham,  and  the  God  of  Isaac, 


30  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

and  the  God  of  Jacob?  God  is  not  the  God  of 
the  dead,  but  of  the  living.' " 

Eva's  turn  came  next  and  she  read:  " '  And 
the  graves  were  opened;  and  many  bodies 
of  the  saints  which  slept  arose,  and  came 
out  of  the  graves  after  his  resurrection,  and 
went  into  the  holy  city,  and  appeared  unto 
many.' " 

Then  Lucilla :  ^^ '  Women  received  their  dead 
raised  to  life  again:  and  others  were  tortured, 
not  accepting  deliverance;  that  they  might  ob- 
tain a  better  resurrection.' " 

"  Will  the  resurrection  be  of  all  the  dead, 
Grace?  the  wicked  as  well  as  the  righteous?" 
asked  her  father. 

"  Yes,  papa,"  she  answered;  then  read  aloud: 
"^Marvel  not  at  this:  for  the  hour  is  coming, 
in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the  graves  shall  hear 
his  voice,  and  shall  come  forth;  they  that  have 
done  good,  unto  the  resurrection  of  life;  and 
they  that  have  done  evil,  unto  the  resurrection 
of  damnation.' " 

It  was  little  Elsie's  turn  and  she  read  a  verse 
in  Acts  pointed  out  by  her  mother:  " '  And 
have  hope  toward  God,  which  they  themselves 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  31 

also  allow,  that  there  shall  be  a  resurrection  of 
the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust.' '' 

It  was  Ned's  turn  now  and  he  read  a 
passage  selected  for  him  by  his  mother:  "  ^  For 
I  delivered  unto  you  first  of  all  that  which  I 
also  received,  how  that  Christ  died  for  our  sins 
according  to  the  Scriptures;  and  that  he  was 
buried,  and  that  he  rose  again  the  third  day 
according  to  the  Scriptures.' " 

It  was  the  captain's  turn  again  and  he  went 
on  with  the  reading:  "  ^  Now  if  Christ  be 
preached  that  he  rose  from  the  dead,  how  say 
some  among  you  that  there  is  no  resurrection 
of  the  dead?  But  if  there  be  no  resurrection  of 
the  dead,  then  is  Christ  not  risen:  and  if  Christ 
be  not  risen,  then  is  our  preaching  vain,  and 
your  faith  is  also  vain.  Yea,  and  we  are  found 
false  witnesses  of  God;  because  we  have  testi- 
fied of  God  that  he  raised  up  Christ:  whom  he 
raised  not  up,  if  so  be  that  the  dead  rise  not. 
For  if  the  dead  rise  not,  then  is  not  Christ 
raised,  and  if  Christ  be  not  raised,  your  faith  is 
vain;  ye  are  yet  in  your  sins.  Then  they 
also  which  are  fallen  asleep  in  Christ  are  per- 
ished.    If  in  this  life  only  we  have  hope  in 


32  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

Christ,  we  are  of  all  men  most  miserable.  But 
now  is  Christ  risen  from  the  dead,  and  become 
the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept.  For  since 
by  man  came  death,  by  man  came  also  the 
resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam 
all  die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made 
alive.' " 

"  Yes,''  said  Grandma  Elsie,  "  we  needed  a 
divine  Saviour,  and  Christ's  resurrection  proved 
his  divinity;  as  Paul  tells  us  here  in  the  first 
chapter  of  Eomans,  'And  declared  to  be  the 
Son  of  God  with  power,  according  to  the  Spirit 
of  holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.' 
Peter  too  teaches  us  that  the  resurrection  of 
Christ  was  necessary  to  our  salvation.  It  seems 
plainly  taught  in  this  verse  of  the  fifth  chapter 
of  his  first  Epistle.  '  Blessed  be  the  God  and 
Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  which  accord- 
ing to  his  abundant  mercy  hath  begotten  us 
again  unto  a  lively  hope  by  the  resurrection  of 
Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead.' " 

"Yes,"  said  Violet,  "Jesus  said  to  his  dis- 
ciples, '  Because  I  live,  ye  shall  live  also.'  His 
resurrection  is  surely  the  pledge  and  assurance 
of  that  of  his  people." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  33 

^'  Papa,  does  everybod}^  have  to  die  ?  ^^  asked 
little  Ned. 

"  Everybody  except  those  who  are  alive  when 
Jesus  comes  again,  as  he  will  some  day  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven.  This  is  what  the  Apostle 
Paul  tells  us  about  it  in  the  letter  he  wrote  to 
the  Thessalonians.  *  Them  also  which  sleep  in 
Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him.  For  this  we 
say  unto  you  by  the  word  of  the  Lord,  that  we 
which  are  alive  and  remain  unto  the  coming  of 
the  Lord,  shall  not  prevent  them  which  are 
asleep.  For  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend 
from  heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the  voice  of  the 
archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God:  and  the 
dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first;  then  we  which 
are  alive  and  remain,  shall  be  caught  up  to- 
gether with  them  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the 
Lord  in  the  air,  and  so  shall  we  ever  be  with  the 
Lord.' " 

"  '  Wherefore  comfort  one  another  with  these 
words,' "  added  Evelyn  softly,  finishing  the 
quotation;  "and  oh,  what  a  comfort  it  is!  " 

"  There  could  be  none  greater,"  said  Grand- 
ma Elsie,  "  Think  of  being  reunited  with  all 
the  dear  ones  gone  before,  and  in  the  immediate 


34  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

presence  of  Jesu.s;  never  again  to  be  parted 
from  them  or  him  or  to  know  sin  or  sorrow  or 
pain.  Oh,  what  joy  to  be  permitted  to  look 
upon  the  face  of  our  Redeemer,  to  kneel  at  his 
feet,  to  hear  his  voice  speaking  to  each  one  of 
us.  'Whom  I  shall  see  for  myself,  and  mine 
eyes  shall  behold  and  not  another/ '' 


CHAPTER  IV. 

"  OH;,  Rosie,  you  here?  I'm  delighted!  T 
hope  you  have  come  to  spend  the  day?"  ex- 
claimed Lucilla,  as  on  Monday  she  and  Grace, 
on  leaving  the  schoolroom  where  they  had  been 
reciting  to  their  father,  passed  out  upon  the 
veranda  in  search  of  Evelyn  and  the  older 
ladies  and  found  Rose  Travilla  seated  with  the 
others. 

*^  Thank  you;  but  suppose  I  have  come  in- 
tending to  stay  longer  than  that?  as  long  as 
mamma  does,  for  instance  ? "  laughed  Rose, 
giving  and  receiving  an  affectionate  caress;  for 
they  had  seen  nothing  of  each  other  for  several 
days. 

"  The  longer  the  better,"  was  Lucilla's  hearty 
rejoinder.  "  Do  you  not  say  so  too.  Mamma 
Vi  ?  "  turning  to  her. 

"  Indeed  I  do,"  said  Violet.  "  She  will  cer- 
tainly make  a  most  pleasant  addition  to  our 
party." 

35 


3€  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  think  you  may  as  well  accept  the  invita- 
tion, Rosie/^  her  mother  said  with  a  pleased 
smile;  "  and  as  I  know  you  do  not  care  to  keep 
your  errand  a  secret  from  any  of  your  friends 
here,  we  can  call  a  family  council  and  talk  the 
matter  over." 

"  Yes,  mamma;  that  sounds  as  though  you 
accept  Solomon's  teaching  that  ^  In  the  multi- 
tude of  counsellors  there  is  safety.'  And  since 
he  was  the  wisest  of  men  we  may  surely  consider 
ourselves  safe  in  so  doing.  So,  if  you  like,  you 
may  tell  Lu  and  Gracie  on  what  errand  I 
came." 

"  Tell  it  yourself,  child,"  returned  her  mother 
with  an  amused  look. 

At  that  Rosie  held  up  a  letter  to  the  view  of 
Lucilla  and  Grace,  saying,  with  a  smile  and 
hlush,  "  It  is  from  Will  Croly.  He  has  grown 
tired  of  waiting  and  begs  to  have  matters 
hurried  up  somewhat:  proposes  that  I  change 
my  name  next  month,  though  the  prescribed 
year  of  waiting  would  thereby  be  shortened  by 
two  months  or  more." 

"  Oh,  do  let  him  have  his  way,  then! "  ex- 
claimed Grace — "  at  least  if  he  will  promise  not 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  37 

to  carry  you  off  at  once  after  the  wedding — 
for  there  could  not  be  a  lovelier  month  for  it 
than  beautiful  June,  the  month  of  roses." 

"  So  I  should  say,"  chimed  in  Lucilla,  then 
added  hastily,  '^  though  I  think  I'd  make 
him  wait  till  June  of  next  year,  rather  than 
leave  such  a  mother  as  Grandma  Elsie  so 
soon." 

At  that  Rosie  glanced  at  her  mother  and  her 
eyes  filled  with  unbidden  tears. 

"  I  can't  bear  to  think  of  that,"  she  said  with 
a  tremble  in  her  voice,  "  but  perhaps  I  can 
coax  Will  to  settle  down  somewhere  in  this 
neighbourhood — bringing  his  father  and 
mother  along  so  that  they  won't  be  lonely." 

"A  very  nice  plan,  Rosie  dear,  if  you  can 
manage  to  carry  it  out,"  remarked  Violet. 

'^And  I  have  hope  that  Will,  at  least,  will 
favour  the  plan;  for  he  seemed  much  pleased 
with  this  neighbourhood  when  he  was  here," 
said  Rosie,  adding  with  a  laugh  and  blush, 
^^  and  I  know  my  wishes  carry  great  weight 
with  him." 

"  And  we  will  hope  that  those  of  his  parents 
may  coincide  with  yours,"  added  her  mother 


3§  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

gently;  "  for  I  am  sure  my  Eosie  would  not 
wish  to  be  the  cause  of  unhappiness  to  them." 

"  No,  indeed,  mamma;  I  can  assure  you  it  is 
my  earnest  desire  to  add  to  their  happiness;  not 
to  take  from  it.  I  am  strongly  in  hopes,  how- 
ever, that  when  they  come  to  know  you  and  all 
the  rest  of  my  dear  relatives  here,  they  will 
esteem  it  a  delight  to  live  in  your  midst." 

'^  And  I  don't  believe  they  can  help  it,"  said 
Grace,  "  I  am  sure  everybody  who  knows 
Grandma  Elsie,  mamma,  and  papa — not  to  men- 
tion all  the  other  dear  people — loves  them  and 
their  pleasant  society." 

^^In  all  of  which  I  am  sure  you  are  quite 
right,  Gracie,"  said  Evelyn. 

"  I,  too,"  said  Lulu.  "  But  now  let  us  hear 
the  plans  for  the  wedding." 

"  They  are  yet  to  be  made,"  laughed  Eosie. 

"  You  will  want  a  grand  one?  "  Lulu  said  in 
a  tone  of  mingled  assertion  and  inquiry. 

"  Not  so  very,"  Eosie  answered  with  a  slight 
shake  of  her  pretty  head.  ^'^I  think  only  the 
relatives  and  most  intimate  friends.  They 
alone  will  make  quite  a  party,  you  know.  I'll 
want  some  bridesmaids.     You'll  be  one,  Lu, 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  39 

won't  5^011?  Unless  you  fear  the  truth  of  the 
old  saying,  ^  Twice  a  bridesmaid  never  a 
bride/  " 

"Pooh!  what  difference  need  that  make?" 
returned  Lulu;  "  since  I  don't  intend  ever  to 
marry." 

"  You  don't?  "  exclaimed  Kosie. 

"  No;  for  there  is  not  another  man  in  the 
world  whom  I  could  love  half  so  dearly  as  I  love 
my  father." 

"  Oh,  well!  that  is  only  because  you  and  the 
right  one  haven't  happened  to  meet  yet." 

"  Yes,  Lulu,"  said  Grandma  Elsie,  "  at  your 
age  I  thought  and  felt  just  as  you  do  now,  but 
some  years  later  I  found  that  another  had 
gained  the  first  place  in  my  heart." 

"  But  my  father  is  so  much  kinder  and  more 
lovable  than  ever  yours  was,"  was  the  answering 
thought  in  Lucilla's  mind,  but  unwilling  to 
hurt  the  dear  lady's  feelings  she  refrained  from 
expressing  it,  and  only  said  with  a  little  laugh 
of  incredulity,  "  I  suppose  I  should  not  be  too 
certain,  but  I  am  entirely  willing  to  run  the 
risk  of  again  acting  as  bridesmaid." 

"  Bo  that  much  is  settled,"  returned  Rosie 


40  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

in  a  tone  of  satisfaction.  ^^  I  have  always 
counted  upon  Eva  as  another/'  she  continued, 
«  but " 

"  Thank  you,  Eosie  dear,  but  o^  course  I 
cannot  serve — under  present  circumstances," 
returned  Evelyn  in  a  tone  of  gentle  sadness. 

No  one  spoke  again  for  a  moment;  then  Vio- 
let broke  the  silence  by  asking,  "  How  many 
do  you  think  of  having,  Eosie?" 

"Perhaps  six,"  was  the  reply,  in  a  musing 
tone,  "  at  least  including  flower  girls  and  maid 
of  honour.  Gracie,  you  will  be  one  of  the 
bridesmaids,  will  you  not  ?  " 

''  If  papa  does  not  object;  as  I  hardly  think 
he  will." 

"Maud  and  Sydney  Dinsmore  I  think  will 
serve,"  continued  Eosie.  "  And  wouldn't  it  be 
a  pretty  idea  to  have  Elsie  Eaymond  and  Uncle 
Horace's  Elsie,  who  is  about  the  same  size,  as 
either  bridesmaids  or  flower  girls?  " 

Everyone  approved  of  that  idea. 

"  Now,  it  will  be  in  order,  I  suppose,  to  settle 
about  the  material  and  colour  of  our  dresses," 
remarked  Lucilla. 

"  Perhaps  it  might  be  as  well  to  first  decide  at 


BL8IB  AT  HOME.  41 

what  time  of  year  they  are  to  be  worn/'  sug- 
gested Mrs.  Travilla  in  her  gentle  tones. 

"  Yes,  mamma,  but — you  do  not  want  to  dis- 
appoint Will,  do  you?  And  June  is  really  the 
prettiest  month  in  the  year  for  a  wedding,  I 
think,"  said  Rose. 

"  None  lovelier,  daughter,"  her  mother  re- 
sponded with  a  slight  sigh,  "but  October,  my 
own  wedding  month,  seems  to  me  no  less 
suitable." 

"  Why,  yes,  to  be  sure!  if  only  Will  could  be 
satisfied  to  wait  till  then." 

"It  will  be  hardly  longer  than  the  time  he 
was  given  to  understand  he  must  expect  to 
wait,"  returned  her  mother  pleasantly,  "  or  than 
he  ought  to  think  my  Rose  worth  waiting  for. 
But  at  all  events,  daughter,  we  must  consult 
with  your  grandpa  before  deciding.  Have  you 
had  any  talk  with  him  on  the  subject?  " 

"  No,  mamma;  I  preferred  coming  to  you 
first,  and  am  almost  sure  grandpa  will  think  it 
a  matter  for  you  to  decide." 

"  Probably;  yet  I  shall  want  his  opinion;  and 
besides  he  is  your  guardian  as  well  as  your 
grandfather." 


4^  ELSIE  AT  HOMR 

"  Along  with  you,  mamma;  and  I  love  him 
as  both,  he  is  so  dear  and  kind." 

"  He  is  indeed/'  assented  her  mother.  "  He 
has  told  me  more  than  once  or  twice  that  my 
children  are  scarcely  less  dear  to  him  than  his 
own." 

"  Partly  because  our  father  was  his  dear 
friend  as  well  as  his  son-in-law/'  added  Violet 
softly. 

"  Yes;  they  were  bosom  friends  before  I  was 
born/'  her  mother  said  with  a  far-away  look  in 
her  eyes. 

"  Then  you  must  have  been  very  much 
younger  than  he,  Grandma  Elsie,"  remarked 
Grace,  half  inquiringly. 

"  Sixteen  years  younger.  I  was  in  my  ninth 
year  when  I  saw  him  first,  and  more  than  twice 
that  age  before  I  thought  of  him  as  anything 
but  a  dear,  kind  friend — my  father's  friend  and 
mine." 

"  And  after  that  he  seemed  to  you  to  grow 
younger,  did  he  not,  mamma?"  asked  Rosie. 

"  Yes;  when  he  joined  us  in  Europe  I  had 
not  seen  him  for  two  years,  and  as  regarded  age 
he  seemed  to  have  been  standing  still  while  I 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  43 

grew  up  to  him;  and  in  the  daily  and  intimate 
intercourse  of  those  months  I  learned  that  his 
worth  was  far  greater  than  that  of  any  other 
man  of  my  acquaintance — excepting  my  father. 
Ah,  there  was  never  a  better  man,  a  truer 
friend,  a  kinder,  more  devoted  husband  and 
father  than  he." 

The  sweet  voice  trembled  with  emotion;  she 
paused  for  a  moment,  then  went  on: 

"He  does  not  seem  dead  to  me — he  is  not 
dead,  but  only  gone  before  into  the  immediate 
presence  of  the  dear  Master,  where  I  hope  one 
day  to  join  him  for  an  eternity  of  bliss. 

"  '  'Tis  there  we'll  meet 

At  Jesus'  feet. 
When  we  meet  to  part  no  more.' " 

Again  there  was  a  brief  silence,  presently 
broken  by  the  coming  of  the  captain  and  his 
two  younger  children.  All  three  seemed 
pleased  to  find  Rosie  there,  greeted  her  affec- 
tionately, and  then  the  captain  remarked, 
glancing  from  one  to  another: 

"  It  strikes  me  that  you  are  all  looking  about 
as  grave  as  if  assembled  to  discuss  the  affairs 


44  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

of  the  nation.  Can  I  have  a  voice  in  the  sub- 
ject, whatever  it  is?  " 

"  Yes,  Brother  Levis/'  replied  Eosie,  "  I  am 
trying  to  make  arrangements  for — doing  what 
you  have  done  twice.  And  perhaps,  since  you 
have  had  so  much  practice,  you  may  be  more 
capable  than  these  other  friends  and  relatives 
of  giving  me  advice." 

"  Something  that  I  have  done  twice?  What 
can  that  be  ?  " 

"Will  Croly  wants  to  help  me,"  returned 
Eosie  with  a  laugh  and  a  blush. 

"Ah!  now  I  understand.  Is  the  vexing 
question  as  to  the  colour  and  material  of  the 
wedding  gown  ?  " 

"  Mamma  thinks  the  first  thing  is  to  settle 
when  the  ceremony  is  to  be  performed.  She 
does  not  seem  to  sympathise  in  Will's  haste  to 
have  it  over." 

"Which  is  not  at  all  surprising,"  returned 
the  captain,  glancing  at  his  two  older  daughters. 
"  I  can  quite  understand  the  feeling.  But 
what  is  the  time  proposed  by  Will?  " 

^'  June  of  this  year." 

"June  seems  a  very  suitable  month,  but  if 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  45 

you  were  my  daughter  I  should  say  not  June  of 
this  year — since  you  are  both  young  enough  to 
wait  for  that  of  next  or  the  year  after.'' 

"Ah,  sir!  that  was  not  the  way  you  talked 
when  you  wanted  to  rob  mamma  of  one  of  her 
daughters." 

"  No;  but  I  was  some  years  older  than  Mr. 
Croly  is  now,  and  your  sister  Violet  very 
womanly  in  her  ways." 

"And  I  am  not?  Ah,  well!  perhaps  it  is  for- 
tunate for  me  that  the  decision  rest  with 
mamma  and  grandpa." 

"'  So  you,  too,  are  in  haste?  "  queried  the  cap- 
tain, regarding  her  with  a  look  of  amusement. 

"  Not  at  all,"  she  returned,  drawing  herself 
up  with  an  air  of  pretended  indignation. 
"  Who  would  be  in  haste  to  leave  such  a  home 
and  mother  as  mine?  If  I  consulted  only  my 
own  feelings  I  should  be  more  than  willing  to 
wait  another  year." 

"  Then  why  not  decide  to  do  so  ?  "  he  asked 
with  a  quizzical  look. 

"  Because  I  really  have  some  regard  for  the 
wishes  of  my  betrothed." 

"  And  it  makes  it  hard  for  you  that  the  dif- 


46  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

ferent  ones  you  love  cannot  agree  so  that  you 
might  please  them  all,"  remarked  Grace,  then 
exclaimed,  "  Ah,  here  comes  grandpa! "  as  at 
that  moment  the  Ion  carriage  turned  in  at  the 
great  gates. 

Mr.  Dinsmore  seldom  let  a  day  pass  without 
a  more  or  less  extended  interview  with  his 
eldest  daughter,  and  had  now  come  for  a  call  at 
Woodburn,  bringing  his  wife  with  him. 

When  the  usual  greetings  had  been  ex- 
changed the  subject  of  Eosie's  approaching 
marriage  and  the  letter  from  Mr.  Croly,  urging 
that  it  take  place  speedily,  were  introduced,  and 
after  some  discussion  it  was  decided  to  let  him 
have  his  own  way.  The  day  was  not  fixed  upon 
any  farther  than  that  it  should  be  near  the  end 
of  the  month  of  June,  and  with  that  Eosie 
seemed  satisfied. 

^'  Now,  mamma,"  she  said,  "  I  think  we  may 
go  on  and  discuss  minor  details,  such  as  dresses 
and  ornaments  for  bride  and  attendants." 

"  Very  well,  daughter;  you  may  give  us  your 
views  on  the  subject.  You  will  want  your  own 
dress  of  some  rich  white  material,  I  suppose?" 

"  Yes,    mamma;    of    Bengaline    silk,    richly 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  47 

trimmed  with  lace;  and  I  must  have  a  veil  and 
orange  blossoms;  also  a  bouquet  of  bride  roses 
and  smilax.  Lu  and  Grace,  you  will  want 
white  silk  dresses,  won^t  you  ?  ^' 

"  Yes,"  they  replied.  "  And  bouquets  of 
white  flowers,"  added  Lucilla. 

"  Oh,  papa,  you  will  let  me  act  as  one  of  the 
bridesmaids,  will  you  not  ?  "  asked  Grace,  turn- 
ing to  him. 

"I  have  no  objection,"  he  replied.  "You 
may  both  serve,  since  Rosie  wishes  it  and  I 
see  you  are  pleased  with  the  idea.  As  for 
the  matter  of  dress  you  may  settle  that  for 
yourselves." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  sir! "  both  exclaimed  joy- 
ously, Grace  adding,  "But  won't  you  please 
tell  us,  papa,  just  how  much  we  may  spend?" 

"Any  amount  which  your  mamma  and 
Grandma  Elsie  do  not  consider  too  great,"  he 
replied  in  an  indulgent  tone.  "However,  I 
think  I  should  not  hesitate  to  leave  that  matter 
to  the  judgment  of  my  daughters  themselves; 
for  I  know  that  neither  of  you  is  inclined  to 
be  at  all  extravagant." 

"  No,  indeed,"  said  Violet,  "  they  are  always 


48  ELSIE  AT  HOME, 

very  careful  to  make  sure  that  papa  is  able  to 
afford  them  what  they  want." 

"  It  would  be  strange  if  we  weren't,  Mamma 
Vi,"  said  Lucilla  with  a  happy  laugh,  "  for  we 
know  that  papa  loves  us  so  dearly  that  he  would 
go  without  things  himself  any  time  rather  than 
deny  us  anything  desirable." 

"  And  I  expect  to  put  him  to  the  additional 
expense  of  dressing  Elsie  handsomely  for  the 
occasion/'  laughed  Rosie. 

"  Ah!  is  she  also  to  be  a  bridesmaid?  "  asked 
the  captain  with  a  smiling  glance  at  his  little 
girl,  who  was  turning  her  bright  eyes  from  one 
to  another  with  a  surprised,  pleased,  yet  puz- 
zled look. 

"  Not  just  that,"  replied  Rosie;  then  went 
on  to  explain  her  plan  for  giving  the  two  little 
Elsies  a  part  in  the  ceremony. 

"  Should  you  like  to  do  that,  daughter? " 
asked  the  captain,  taking  the  hand  of  the  little 
girl  and  drawing  her  to  his  side. 

"  I'm  'most  afraid  I  would  not  know  how  to 
do  it  right,  papa,'^  she  answered  with  doubtful 
look  and  tone. 

"  You    can    take    lessons    beforehand,"    he 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  49 

said;  ^^but  you  shall  do  just  as  you  please 
about  it." 

"And  the  question  need  not  be  decided  at 
once,"  remarked  Grandma  Elsie.  "  We  will 
let  the  matter  rest  till  we  leam  what  your 
cousin  Elsie  Dinsmore  thinks  about  joining  you 
in  it." 

"Yes,"  said  Eosie,  "and  fortunately  we  do 
not  need  to  settle  anything  more  to-day.  Maud 
and  Sydney  must  be  consulted  before  we  quite 
decide  on  the  colour  and  material  of  the  brides- 
maids'  dresses." 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  PAUSE  in  the  conversation  upon  the  ve- 
randa was  broken  by  an  exclamation  from  little 
Ned.  ^^  Cousin  Arthur  is  coming! "  he  cried 
as  a  carriage  turned  in  at  the  great  gates  and 
came  swiftly  up  the  driveway. 

"Yes,"  said  his  father,  stepping  forward  to 
meet  and  welcome  Dr.  Conly,  "  always  a  visitor 
we  are  delighted  to  see,  whether  we  are  sick  or 
well.  Good-morning,  sir!  We  are  all  glad  to 
see  you  as  friend  and  guest,  though  fortunately 
not  in  need  of  your  professional  services  at 
present.  I  hope  the  demands  of  other  patients 
are  not  so  pressing  that  we  may  not  keep  you 
here  till  after  dinner." 

*'  Thank  you,  but  I  can  stay  for  only  a  hasty 
call,"  replied  the  doctor,  alighting  and  shaking 
hands  with  one  after  another  as  they  crowded 
about  him. 

"You  look  like  the  bringer  of  good  news, 

50 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  61 

cousin,"  said  Grandma  Elsie,  regarding  him 
with  a  pleased  smile. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  I  feel  myself  a  very  fortu- 
nate and  happy  man  to-day,  and  have  come  to 
tell  my  news  and  ask  the  sympathy  and  con- 
gratulations of  you  my  relatives  and  friends. 
My  Marian  and  I  have  a  son — a  fine  healthy 
habe,  now  some  hours  old — mother  and  child 
are  doing  as  well  as  possible." 

The  congratulations  were  poured  forth  with- 
out stint.  Then  Mr.  Dinsmore  asked,  "  What 
do  you  propose  to  call  the  lad?  " 

"  Ronald.  It  is  Marian's  choice  and  I  am 
well  content,  for  it  is  a  good  name,  and  I  highly 
esteem  the  dear  old  cousin  w^ho  has  showed  such 
kindness  to  the  mother." 

"  Yes,  he  is  worthy  of  it,"  said  Grandma 
Elsie.  "  I  have  alw  ays  felt  proud  to  ow  n  him 
as  my  kinsman." 

"And  Ronald  and  Conly  go  well  together, 
making  a  very  pretty  name,  to  my  thinking," 
said  Rosie. 

"  Have  they  heard  the  news  at  Beechwood 
yet?"  asked  Lucilla. 

"I  think  not,"  replied  the  doctor;  "but  I 


52  ELSIE  AT  BOMB, 

shall  take  it  in  my  way  home,  as  it  will  make 
the  drive  only  a  little  longer  and  I  need  delay 
there  but  a  moment.'*  Then  with  a  hasty 
adieu  he  took  his  departure. 

*^  Art  is  a  very  happy  man  to-day/'  Mr.  Dins- 
more  remarked  with  a  pleased  smile,  as  they 
watched  the  doctor's  gig  on  its  way  down  the 
drive. 

"  Yes;  I  know  of  no  one  more  worthy  of  hap- 
piness, and  it  does  me  good  to  see  it,"  said  the 
captain. 

"  And  no  doubt  dear  Marian's  heart  is  over- 
flowing with  love  and  gratitude,"  said  Grandma 
Elsie  in  low,  soft  tones.  "  I  quite  want  to  see 
her  and  her  new  treasure." 

"Both  she  and  Art  will  be  very  proud  to 
show  it  to  their  friends  and  relatives,"  remarked 
Violet  with  a  smile,  "  though  he  will  be  care- 
ful not  to  admit  even  relatives  for  some  days 
yet.  He  is  very  kind  and  careful  as  both  hus- 
band and  physician." 

"Yes,"  said  Rosie;  "he  will  take  excellent 
care  of  Marian  and  have  her  well  in  time  to  at- 
tend the  wedding,  I  hope." 

"I  think  we  can  manage  that,  daughter,  as 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  53 

we  have  not  fixed  upon  the  day,"  her  mother 
said  with  playful  look  and  tone. 

"  Oh,  yes,  mamma!  and  I  do  intend  it  to  be 
at  least  six  weeks  before  I  leave  girlhood  for 
married  life,"  returned  Rosie,  laughing  and 
blushing  as  she  spoke. 

"  It  is  too  serious  a  step  to  be  taken  hastily, 
my  dear  young  sister,"  remarked  the  captain  in 
a  tone  between  jest  and  earnest;  "a  step  that 
once  taken  cannot  be  retraced — a  venture  in- 
volving the  happiness  or  misery  of  perhaps  a 
lifetime;  certainly  the  lifetime  of  one  if  not  of 
both." 

'^  Oh,  you  frighten  me! "  cried  Rosie,  draw- 
ing a  long  breath  and  lifting  her  hands  with  a 
gesture  of  alarm  and  despair;  "  what  shall  I  do? 
Would  you  recommend  single  blessedness — you 
who  have  twice  tried  laying  hold  of  the  other 
horn  of  the  dilemma?  " 

"  Only  for  a  time,"  he  said.  "  Look  well  be- 
fore you  leap,  as  I  did,  and  then  you  will  be  in 
little  danger  of  wanting  to  leap  back  again." 

"  You  don't?  you  never  do?  "  she  queried  in 
mock  surprise  and  doubt. 

"  Never! "  he  said  with  a  smiling,  admiring 


64  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

glance  into  Violet's  beautiful  eyes,  watching 
him  with  not  a  shade  of  doubt  or  distrust  in 
their  azure  depths;  "  never  for  a  moment  have 
I  been  conscious  of  the  slightest  inclination  to 

do  60." 

"  Thank  you,  my  dear,"  Violet  said.  "  And, 
Eosie,  let  me  tell  you  for  your  encouragement 
that  I  have  known  no  more  regret  than  has  he. 
I  am  very  sure  that  if  it  were  in  our  power  to 
reconsider,  the  question  would  be  decided  ex- 
actly as  it  was  years  ago." 

"I  believe  it,"  responded  Eosie  heartily, 
"and  that  Will  and  I  will  be  able  to  say  the 
same  when  we  too  have  lived  together  for  years. 
He  is  good  as  gold,  I  know,  and  I  shall  try  to  be 
worthy  of  him." 

The  call  to  dinner  here  put  an  end  to  the  con- 
versation and  the  talk  at  the  table  was  upon 
other  themes. 

Shortly  after  the  conclusion  of  the  meal  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dinsmore  returned  to  Ion,  while  the 
others,  some  on  horseback,  the  rest  in  the 
family  carriage,  went  over  to  the  Oaks  to  call 
upon  the  relatives  there  and  consult  with  them 
<?n  the  arrangements  for  the  wedding,  particu- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  55 

larly  the  dress  of  the  bride  and  her  attendants 
— a  subject  of  great  interest  to  the  ladies,  espe- 
cially such  to  the  young  girls,  but  one  which  the 
two  gentlemen — Captain  Raymond  and  young 
Mr.  Dinsmore — were  so  entirely  willing  to  leave 
to  their  decision  that  they  presently  excused 
themselves  and  walked  out  into  the  grounds, 
Mr.  Dinsmore  wishing  to  consult  the  captain  in 
regard  to  some  improvements  that  he  had  in 
contemplation. 

Then  Eosie  announced  her  errand  and  gave 
her  invitation  to  Maud  and  Sydney.  It  was  ac- 
cepted promptly  and  with  evident  pleasure  by 
both.  Then  Rosie  went  on  to  speak  of  her  idea 
of  having  the  two  little  Elsies  act  as  flower 
girls. 

"  My  niece  and  my  cousin,  and  both  bearing 
mamma's  name;  about  the  same  size,  too;  would 
it  not  be  pretty?"  she  asked,  and  received  a 
chorus  of  approving  replies. 

"  Oh,  I'd  like  to! "  cried  Elsie  Dinsmore, 
clapping  her  hands  in  delight.  "It's  ever  so 
good  in  you,  Cousin  Rosie,  to  choose  us!  and  I 
suppose  we  will  be  dressed  alike,  won't  we?" 

"  That  is  my  idea,"  said  Rosie,  "  and  I  pre- 


56  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

sume  your  mothers  will  not  withhold  their  con- 
sent." 

"  Oh,  you  will  let  us,  mamma — you  and 
Cousin  Vi — won't  you?  "  cried  the  child,  turn- 
ing to  them. 

"  I  am  entirely  willing,  if  that  suits  Cousin 
Vi  and  her  Elsie,"  replied  her  mother. 

"  As  it  will,  I  am  sure,"  said  Violet. 

"  Yes,  mamma,"  said  her  Elsie,  "  I  shall  like 
it,  for  I  am  sure  you  and  the  other  ladies  will 
choose  a  pretty  dress  for  us." 

'^Probahly  no  prettier  than  some  that  you 
already  own,"  Violet  returned  with  an  amused 
look.  '^  Try  not  to  think  or  care  too  much  for 
dress,  daughter;  there  are  so  many  things  which 
are  much  more  important." 

"But  it  isn't  wrong  to  like  to  be  tastefully 
dressed,  is  it,  mamma?"  asked  the  little  girl 
with  a  slightly  troubled  look. 

"  No,  I  think  not,  dear,"  returned  her  mother 
with  a  loving  smile  into  the  inquiring  eyes;  "  if 
it  were  wrong  to  love  pretty  things,  surely  God 
would  not  have  made  so  many  for  our  eyes  to 
look  upon — the  beautiful  flowers  and  fruits,  the 
sunset  clouds,  the  stars,  to  mention  only  a  few 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  Si 

■ — ^but  he — our  kind  Heavenly  Father — ^loves  to 
give  us  enjoyment/' 

"And  I  do  enjoy  all  the  pretty  things  very 
much  indeed,  mamma/'  responded  the  little 
girl  with  a  look  of  relief  and  pleasure,  "  and 
I'm  glad  it  isn't  wrong;  I  like  to  see  pretty 
clothes  on  you  and  my  sisters  quite  as  much  as 
on  myself.  And  don't  you  think  papa  likes  to 
have  us  all  nicely  dressed?  " 

"  I  am  sure  he  does;  and  you  may  feel  very 
certain  that  papa  approves  of  nothing  but  what 
is  right." 

"  Those  are  exactly  mine  and  my  husband's 
sentiments  upon  the  subject  in  question/'  re- 
marked Mrs.  Dinsmore  in  a  lively  tone.  "  But 
now  let  us  hear  what  those  girls  are  talking 
about." 

"You  will  be  married  in  church?"  Maud 
was  saying  inquiringly. 

"  IN'o/'  said  Rosie  in  a  tone  of  decision;  "  I 
mean  to  follow  the  good  example  of  my  mother 
and  older  sisters  in  having  a  home  wedding." 

"And  you  will  want  ushers?  I  was  just 
going  to  ask  who  were  to  serve  in  that  capacity." 

"I    believe    Mr.    Croly    has    engaged    my 


58  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

brothers  Harold  and  Herbert,  who  are  his  most 
intimate  friends/'  replied  Rosie;  "  but  of  course 
there  will  be  plenty  of  time  for  all  those 
arrangements." 

"  I  dare  say  he  will  ask  Uncle  Harold  to  be 
best  man/'  said  Grace. 

"  Very  likely/'  said  Eosie,  "  and  Herbert, 
Chester,  and  Frank  for  ushers.  We  may  as 
well  make  it  a  family  affair,"  she  added  with 
a  satisfied  little  laugh. 

"  And  if  either  you  or  Will  conclude  that 
you  would  prefer  a  larger  number  it  will  be  an 
easy  matter  to  think  of,  and  invite  them  to 
serve  a  little  later,"  remarked  Violet. 

"  Yes,  there  is  plenty  of  time,"  said  their 
mother,  smiling  lovingly  into  Rosie's  bright 
eyes.  "  I  am  in  no  hurry  to  give  my  youngest 
daughter  to  even  so  entirely  a  good,  worthy, 
and  amiable  young  man  as  William  Croly." 

"  Please  do  not  look  at  it  in  that  way,  mother 
dear.  Please  remember  that  you  are  not  to 
lose  your  daughter,  but  to  gain  another  good 
son." 

"  That  is  right,  Eosie;  I  do  believe  it  is  going 
to  prove  a  gain  all  round,"  said  Violet. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  69 

"  Why,  of  course  it  is/^  said  Maud;  "  that  is 
settled;  so  now  let  us  consider  and  decide  the 
important  question  what  colours  we  are  to  wear 
on  the  grand  occasion.  Lu,  you  wore  canary 
colour  at  Betty  Norris'  wedding;  suppose  I  take 
that  this  time  and  you  wear  pink;  it  will  be- 
come you  quite  as  well,  I  think." 

"  I  suppose  so,"  said  Lucilla,  "  and  am  per- 
fectly willing  to  wear  it." 

"  And  pink  beside  my  white  will  look  very 
pretty,"  said  Eosie.  ''  Lu  is  to  be  maid  of 
honor,  you  know,  girls." 

"  Yes;  and  I  for  one  highly  approve  your 
choice,  Rosie,"  said  Evelyn  with  an  affectionate, 
admiring  look  at  Lucilla. 

"  Yes;  and  suppose  we  dress  your  little 
flower  girls  in  pink,  also,"  suggested  Mrs. 
Dinsmore. 

That  idea  seemed  to  suit  everybody. 

"  I  like  that  colour,"  remarked  Elsie  Dins- 
more  sagely,  "but  I  shall  be  particular  about 
having  very  handsome  material." 

"  It  shall  be  handsome  enough  to  accord  well 
with  the  others,"  said  her  mother  with  an 
amused  laugh. 


60  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  think  straw  colour  becomes  me,"  re- 
marked Maud;  "  so  that  is  what  I  shall  wear, 
if  the  rest  of  the  party  approve." 

"  And  blue  will  be  the  thing  for  Gracie  and 
me,"  said  Sydney.  "  What  do  you  say  to  that, 
Gracie?" 

"I  am  satisfied  if  Rosie  and  the  rest  approve," 
was  Grace's  pleasant-toned  reply. 

"  So  that  is  settled,"  said  Sydney.  "  Wouldn't 
it  be  well  for  us  all  to  go  into  the  city  to- 
morrow, see  what  we  can  find  there  to  suit  us, 
and  order  other  things  sent  for?  " 

"  What  do  you  say  to  that,  mamma?  "  asked 
Eosie. 

"  I  see  no  objection  to  it,"  replied  Grandma 
Elsie.  "  But  we  will  consult  the  captain  in 
regard  to  that  matter,"  she  added,  as  at  that 
moment  he  and  her  brother  came  in. 

"  Ah!  upon  what  is  my  valuable  opinion  de- 
sired, mother?  "  he  asked  in  playful  tones;  then, 
in  response  to  the  explanation  given,  said  that 
he  thought  it  a  very  good  plan,  as  it  w^ould 
surely  do  no  harm  to  begin  needed  preparations 
promptly. 

"  Then,  papa,  won't  you  excuse  Gracie  and 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  61 

me  from  lessons  for  the  next  few  days?  "  asked 
Lucilla. 

"  I  will;  you  may  consider  the  remainder  of 
the  week  a  holiday,"  he  replied. 

"For  Ned  and  me  too,  papa?"  asked  Elsie. 

"Yes;  if  you  think  you  can  assist  in  the 
shopping." 

"I  should  like  to  help  choose  my  own 
things  if  you  and  mamma  are  willing,"  she 
said  with  a  persuasive  look  from  one  to  the 
other. 

"  I  think  you  will  be  allowed  a  voice  in  the 
selection,"  he  replied,  patting  her  cheek  as  she 
leaned  upon  his  knee,  looking  up  affectionately 
and  pleadingly  into  his  face. 

"  Yes,"  said  Violet,  "  and  I  am  sure  we  shall 
be  able  to  find  dress  goods  and  whatever  else  is 
needed,  that  will  suit  all  three  of  us." 

"And  it  will  be  four  days'  holiday  we'll 
have,"  remarked  Ned  with  satisfaction. 

"  You  are  planning  to  have  your  wedding  a 
good  deal  after  the  pattern  of  Cousin  Betty's, 
Rosie,"  remarked  Mrs.  Dinsmore. 

"Yes;  in  some  respects,  for  I  thought  it  a 
very  pretty  wedding;  but  that  ceremony  took 


62  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

place  in  the  church,  while  I  mean  to  be  married 
at  home;  also  there  will  probably  be  a  differ- 
ence in  the  number  of  attendants  and  their 
dress/'  replied  Rosie.  "  And  by  the  way, 
mamma/'  she  added,  turning  to  her  mother, 
"  we  must  send  Betty  an  invitation  in  good  sea- 
son for  her  to  arrange  matters  so  that  she  can 
come  to  my  wedding.  I  was  one  of  her  brides- 
maids, you  remember,  and  should  be  sorry  in- 
deed to  neglect  her  at  this  time." 

^'  She  shall  not  be  forgotten,  daughter/'  was 
Grandma  Elsie's  ready  response;  "  we  will 
shortly  make  out  a  list  of  those  you  wish  to 
invite,  that  none  may  be  forgotten  or  over- 
looked." 

"  Yes,  mamma;  if  our  list  contains  only  rela- 
tives and  very  intimate  friends  we  will  be  quite 
a  large  party,  should  all  accept." 

"Now  about  to-morrow's  shopping,"  said 
Sydney.  "  We  need  to  settle  when  wc  will  set 
out  on  our  expedition,  where  we  will  meet,  or 
whether  we  will  divide  our  forces  and  each 
division  decide  questions  of  taste  and  expense 
independently  of  the  others." 

"  As  there  are  so  many  of  us  I  think  the  lat- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  63 

ter  plan  would  be  the  better  one/'  said  Grand- 
ma Elsie. 

"  And  as  regards  dress  goods,  we  can  secure 
samples  and  hold  a  consultation  over  them  be- 
fore making  the  purchases/'  said  Violet;  adding 
with  a  smiling  glance  at  her  Elsie,  "  that  will 
be  only  fair  where  two  or  more  are  to  be  dressed 
ahke." 

"I  like  that  plan,  mamma,"  said  the  little 
girl,  "  and  I  do  intend  to  be  satisfied  with  what- 
ever you  and  papa  choose  for  me." 

"  With  some  help  from  my  mamma  and  me," 
said  the  other  Elsie  in  a  tone  that  seemed  to 
imply  some  fear  that  their  choice  might  not  be 
altogether  to  her  taste. 

"Tut!  tut!"  said  her  father.  "You  need 
not  be  in  the  least  afraid  that  such  good  judges 
will  fail  to  select  as  handsome  and  suitable 
material  as  could  be  desired." 

"But  please.  Uncle  Horace,  let  her  have  a 
vote  on  the  question,"  said  Violet  pleasantly. 
"  There  may  be  several  pieces  of  goods  of  the 
chosen  colour,  equally  desirable;  nor  is  it  neces- 
sary that  the  two  dresses  should  be  off  the  same 
piece;  only  that  they  match  in  colour." 


64  ELStiS  AT  ITOMR 

"  And  I  feel  sure  there  will  be  no  difficulty 
in  settling  upon  which  will  he  satisfactory  to  all 
parties/'  added  Mrs.  Dinsmore. 

With  a  little  more  chat  all  the  arrangements 
for  the  morrow's  shopping  expedition  were  con- 
cluded. Then  the  Woodburn  party  hade  good- 
bye and  returned  to  their  home. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  weather  the  next  morning  proved  all 
that  could  be  desired,  and  the  shopping  expedi- 
tion a  grand  success — everybody  being  not  only 
satisfied  but  charmed  with  results. 

Mrs.  Travilla  and  Rosie  returned  to  Ion  that 
evening,  but  scarcely  a  day  passed  while  the 
preparations  for  the  wedding  were  going  on, 
without  more  or  less  interchange  of  visits 
among  the  young  people  of  that  place.  Wood- 
burn,  Fairview,  and  the  Oaks  and  Pinegrove. 

Naturally  the  deepest  interest  was  felt  and 
shown  by  the  ladies  and  young  girls,  but 
brothers  and  cousins  were  by  no  means  indiffer- 
ent. Harold  and  Herbert,  though  well  pleased 
with  the  idea  of  taking  their  friend  Croly  into 
the  family,  were  loath  to  part  with  Rosie,  their 
youngest  and  only  single  sister,  the  only  one 
now  left  in  the  Ion  family.  She  had  always 
been  somewhat  of  a  pet  with  them,  and  during 
these  last  weeks  of  her  life  with  them  they 

65 


66  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

treated  her  as  one  for  whom  they  could  not  do 
enough;  while  her  manner  toward  them  showed 
full  appreciation  of  their  kindness  and  affection. 
Much  of  her  time  and  thoughts  was  necessarily 
taken  up  with  the  preparations  for  her  ap- 
proaching marriage;  but  in  leisure  moments 
she  had  many  sad  thoughts  in  regard  to  the 
coming  separation  from  home  and  all  there 
whom  she  so  loved;  especially  the  tender  mother 
who  had  been,  until  within  a  few  months,  her 
dearest  earthly  friend. 

"  Mamma  dear,  dearest  mamma,  I  can  hardly 
endure  the  thought  of  leaving  you,"  she  sighed 
one  day  with  starting  tears,  as  they  sat  together 
over  their  needlework  in  Mrs.  Travilla's  dress- 
ing room. 

They  were  quite  alone  at  the  moment,  Zoe, 
who  had  been  with  them,  having  just  gone  out 
with  her  little  ones. 

"No  one  can  ever  take  your  place  in  my 
heart  or  home,"  continued  Rosie  with  almost  a 
sob,  "  and  oh,  how  I  shall  miss  you — your  love, 
your  sweet  motherly  counsels,  your  tender  sym- 
pathy in  all  my  joys  and  sorrows — oh,  mamma, 
mamma!  at  times  the  very  thought  of  it  all  is 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  67 

almost  unendurable,  and  I  am  tempted  to  say 
to  Will  that  he  may  come  to  me  if  he  likes,  but 
that  I  can  never  tear  myself  away  from  my  dear 
home  and  the  precious  mother  who  has  been 
everything  to  me  since  I  first  drew  the  breath  of 
life! "  and  dropping  her  work  she  knelt  at 
her  mother's  feet,  lifting  to  hers  eyes  full  of 
tears. 

"  Dear  child,"  her  mother  responded  in  tones 
tremulous  with  emotion,  and  bending  down  to 
press  a  kiss  on  the  quivering  lips,  "  it  gives  me 
a  sad  and  sore  heart  to  think  of  it.  And  yet, 
daughter  dear,  we  may  hope  to  see  each  other 
very  often — to  spend  weeks  and  months  of 
every  year  in  each  other's  society,  and  when  we 
are  apart  to  exchange  letters  daily;  and  best  of 
all,  to  be  in  a  few  brief  years  together  in  the 
better  land,  never  to  part  again." 

"x\h,  mamma  dear,  that  last  seems  a  long 
look  ahead.  At  least — oh,  mamma,  I  cannot 
bear  the  thought  of — of  death  coming  between 
us;  and  yet  we  can  hardly  hope  to  go  together." 

"  No,  daughter  dear,  but  time  is  short,  as  you 
will  realize  when  you  have  seen  as  many  years 
in  this  world  as  I  have;  and  after  it  will  come 


68  ELSIE  AT  HOMJ^. 

the  never-ending  ages  of  eternity — eternity, 
which  we  are  hoping  to  spend  with  our  dear 
ones  in  the  immediate  presence  of  our  Eedeemer 
— united,  never  to  part  again." 

"  Yes,  mamma;  oh,  that  is  indeed  a  sweet 
thought.  But,"  she  added  with  a  heavy  sigh, 
"  sometimes  I  fear  I  may  miss  heaven;  I  seem 
so  far,  so  very  far  from  fit  for  its  employments 
and  its  joys — so  often  indulging  in  wrong 
thoughts  and  feelings — so  taken  up  with  earthly 
cares  and  interests." 

"  Dear  daughter,  look  to  God  for  help  to  fight 
against  your  sinful  nature,"  replied  her  mother 
in  moved  tones.  "  He  says  ^  In  me  is  thine 
help ';  ^  He  giveth  power  to  the  faint;  and  to 
them  that  have  no  might  he  increaseth 
strength.^  '  They  that  wait  upon  the  Lord 
shall  renew  their  strength;  they  shall  mount 
up  with  wings  as  eagles;  they  shall  run,  and  not 
be  weary;  they  shall  walk  and  not  faint.' 
'Fear  thou  not;  for  I  am  with  thee:  be  not 
dismayed;  for  I  am  thy  God:  I  will  strengthen 
thee;  yea,.  I  will  help  thee;  yea,  I  will  uphold 
thee  with  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness.' 
These  are  some  of  his  gracious  promises." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  69 

^^  Ah,  mamma,  but  the  question  with  me  is, 
is  he  really  my  God?  am  I  his? — truly  one  of 
his  redeemed  ones,  his  adopted  children?  How 
shall  I  make  sure  of  that?  " 

"  By  accepting  his  conditions  and  believing 
his  word, '  Come  unto  me  all  ye  that  labour  and 
are  heavy  laden  and  I  will  give  you  rest/ 
^Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise 
cast  out.'  Come  now  and  accept  his  offered  sal- 
vation, whether  you  have  done  so  before  or  not; 
come,  believing  his  word;  '  I  will  in  no  wise 
cast  out,'  ^  I  have  blotted  out,  as  a  thick  cloud, 
thy  transgressions,  and  as  a  cloud,  thy  sins:  re- 
turn unto  me;  for  I  have  redeemed  thee/ 
*  Surely  shall  one  say.  In  the  Lord  have  I  right- 
eousness and  strength;  even  to  him  shall  all 
men  come/  ^  In  the  Lord  shall  all  the  seed  of 
Israel  be  justified,  and  shall  glory/  *  The  just 
shall  live  by  faith,'  and  faith  is  the  gift  of  God, 
as  we  are  told  again  and  again  in  his  Holy 
Word;  a  gift  that  he  will  grant  to  all  who  ask 
it  of  him/' 

There  was  a  sound  of  approaching  footsteps 
and  Rosie  resumed  her  seat,  taking  up  the  work 
ghe  had  dropped.     They  recognised  the  step  as 


10  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

Harold's,  and  the  next  moment  he  stood  in  the 
open  doorway. 

"Mamma/'  he  said,  "I  am  going  over  to 
Roselands  and  should  like  to  take  you  along. 
You  have  not  seen  that  youngest  Conly  yet,  and 
Arthur  considers  Marian  now  quite  well  enough 
for  a  call  from  you.  I  know,  too,  that  she  is 
wanting  to  see  you." 

*^  And  I  to  see  her,  the  dear  girl,"  responded 
his  mother,  laying  aside  her  work.  "  Come  in 
and  sit  down  while  I  don  my  bonnet  and 
mantle." 

"  Let  me  get  them  out  for  you,  mamma,"  said 
Eosie,  dropping  her  embroidery  and  hastening 
to  do  so. 

"I  should  include  you  in  the  invitation, 
Eosie,"  said  Harold,  "  but  we  think  it  safer  not 
to  let  Marian  have  the  excitement  of  many 
callers  until  she  gains  more  strength." 

"I  thought  she  was  doing  j&nely,"  returned 
Eosie,  bringing  her  mother's  mantle  and  put- 
ting it  about  her  with  loving  care. 

"  So  she  is,"  replied  Harold  with  a  light 
laugh ;  "  but  we  cannot  be  too  careful  of  her  to 
satisfy  her  doting  husband,  and  though  eager  to 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  71 

exhibit  her  new  treasure  to  all  her  friends  and 
relatives,  she  is  entirely  submissive  to  his  will 
in  the  matter." 

"  Oh,  well,  I  can  wait,"  laughed  Kosie. 
"  Give  her  my  love,  mamma,  and  tell  her  I  am 
not  stajdng  away  from  any  indifference  to  her 
or  the  little  newcomer." 

*^  ISTo  fear  that  she  would  ever  suspect  you  of 
that,  Rosie  dear,"  her  mother  said,  with  a  slight 
smile;  "but  I  will  assure  her  of  your  interest 
in  both  herself  and^  baby  boy.  Now  good-bye 
till  my  return,  which  I  presume  will  be  in  the 
course  of  an  hour  or  two." 

"  Don't  hurry  home  on  my  account,  mamma 
dear,"  returned  Rosie.  "  I  shall  not  be  lonely. 
I  have  letters  to  write,  and  that  will  make  the 
time  pass  quickly." 

"  It  is  a  lovely  day  and  the  short  drive  with 
my  son  will  be  very  enjoyable,"  Mrs.  Travilla 
remarked,  as  Harold  handed  her  into  the 
vehicle. 

"  To  us  both,  I  hope,  mother,"  he  returned, 
giving  her  an  affectionate  look  and  smile. 
*'  Yours  is  to  me  the  best  company  in  the 
world.     The  roads  are  in  fine  condition,"  he 


12  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

added  as  he  took  up  the  reins  and  they  started 
down  the  avenue,  "  the  fields  and  gardens  along 
the  way  also,  and  the  air  full  of  the  fragrance 
of  flower  and  shrub.  Oh,  on  such  a  morning 
as  this  it  seems  a  joy  just  to  be  alive  and 
well! '' 

"  Yes/'  she  responded,  "  oh,  what  cause  for 
gratitude  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  that  you  and 
I,  and  all  our  nearest  and  dearest  in  this  world, 
are  alive  and  well." 

"  Yes,  mother;  attendance  upon  the  sick  and 
suffering  has  given  me  a  higher  appreciation  of 
the  greatness  of  the  blessing  of  sound  health 
than  I  had  in  earlier  days.  It  is  saddening  to 
witness  suffering  from  accident  and  disease,  but 
a  great  privilege  to  be  able  in  many  cases  to 
relieve  it.  That  last  makes  me  thankful  that 
I  was  led  to  choose  the  medical  profession.'' 

"  And  you  have  often  an  opportunity  to  min- 
ister to  souls  as  well  as  bodies;  one  which  I 
hope  you  do  not  neglect." 

"  I  am  afraid  I  have  sometimes  neglected  it, 
mother,"  he  acknowledged  with  a  sigh,  "  and  at 
others  performed  it  in  a  very  halting  and  imper- 
fect way.     But  as  you  know — for  I  could  not 


^LSIE  AT  HOME.  1^ 

keep  from  you  such  gladness  as  the  knowledge 
of  that  fact  brought  me — I  have  been  privi- 
leged to  win  some  souls  to  Christ — smooth 
some  dying  pillows — and  to  lead  some  recover- 
ing ones  to  devote  their  spared  lives  and  re- 
stored health  to  the  service  of  the  Master — the 
Physician  of  souls — ^in  whose  footsteps  I 
ardently  desire  to  tread." 

"  I  know  it,  my  dear  son,  and  it  has  filled  me 
with  joy  and  gratitude  for  you,  for  them,  and 
for  myself — that  I  am  the  mother  of  one  whom 
God  has  so  honoured  and  blessed." 

Then  she  inquired  about  the  condition  and 
needs  of  some  of  his  poorer  patients;  for  she 
made  it  her  business  to  provide  for  their  necessi- 
ties and  to*  furnish  many  a  little  luxury  that 
helped  on  convalescence  or  smoothed  the  pass- 
age to  the  grave. 

As  they  drove  up  the  avenue  at  Eoselands 
Dr.  Conly  came  out  upon  the  veranda,  his  face 
beaming  with  smiles. 

"  Ah,  Cousin  Elsie,"  he  said  as  he  assisted 
her  to  alight,  "  this  is  kind.  Marian  has  been 
looking  forward  to  your  visit  with  longing,  both 
to  see  you  and  to  exhibit  to  your  appreciative 


V4  BL8IB  AT  HOME. 

eyes  the  little  one  who  seems  to  her  the  greatest 
and  loveliest  darling  the  world  ever  saw." 

"Ah,  I  can  understand  that,"  she  returned 
with  a  low,  pleased  laugh.  "  I  have  not  for- 
gotten how  lovely  and  what  an  inestimable 
treasure  my  first  baby  seemed  to  me;  though  I 
am  by  no  means  sure  that  each  one  who  fol- 
lowed was  not  an  equal  joy  and  delight." 

"Your  second  son  among  the  rest,  I  hope, 
mother,"  laughed  Harold. 

She  gave  him  a  loving  smile  in  response. 

"Will  you  go  up  with  us,  Harold?"  asked 
Arthur. 

"  No,  thank  you,"  he  said.  "  I  will  busy 
myself  here  with  the  morning  paper  while 
mother  makes  her  little  call." 

It  was  a  most  inviting  looking  apartment 
into  which  the  doctor  conducted  his  cousin, 
tastefully  furnished  and  redolent  of  the  breath 
of  flowers;  in  pretty  vases  set  here  and  there  on 
bureau,  mantel,  and  table,  and  blooming  in 
the  garden  beneath  the  open  windows  whence 
the  soft,  warm  air  came  stealing  in  through  the 
lace  curtains.  But  the  chief  ornaments  of  the 
room   were   its   living    occupants — the    young 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  75 

mother  lying  amid  her  snowy  pillows  and  the 
little  one  sleeping  in  its  dainty  crib  close  at  her 
side. 

"Dear  Cousin  Elsie,  you  have  come  at  last, 
and  I  am,  oh,  so  glad  to  see  you! "  Marian  ex- 
claimed with  a  look  of  eager  delight,  and  hold- 
ing out  her  hand  in  joyous  welcome.  "  I  have 
hardly  known  how  to  wait  to  show  you  our 
treasure  and  receive  your  congratulations." 

"  Dear  girl,  I  can  quite  understand  that," 
Mrs.  Travilla  said  with  a  smile  and  a  tender 
caress,  "  and  I  wanted  to  come  sooner;  should 
have  done  so  had  your  good  husband  deemed  it 
entirely  safe  for  you." 

"Ah,  he  is  very  careful  of  me,"  returned 
Marian,  giving  him  a  glance  of  ardent  affection. 
"  But,  oh,  look  at  our  darling!  His  father  and 
mother  think  him  the  sweetest  creature  that 
ever  was  made,"  she  added  with  a  happy  laugh, 
laying  a  hand  on  the  edge  of  the  crib  and  gazing 
with  eyes  full  of  mother  love  at  the  tiny  pink 
face  nestling  among  the  pillows  there. 

Elsie  bent  over  it  too  in  tender  motherly 
fashion. 

"  He  is  a  dear  little  fellow,"  she  said  softly. 


76  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  congratulate  you  both  on  this  good  gift  from 
our  Heavenly  Father,  and  wish  for  you  that  he 
may  grow  up  into  a  God-fearing  man,  a  bless- 
ing to  his  parents,  to  the  Church  and  the 
world." 

"  I  hope  he  may  indeed,  cousin,  and  I  want 
you  to  join  your  prayers  to  ours  that  we  may 
have  grace  and  wisdom  to  train  him  up  aright, 
should  it  please  the  Lord  to  spare  him  to  us," 
said  the  doctor  with  emotion. 

"  I  think  his  mother  needs  those  prayers  the 
most,"  said  Marian  low  and  softly.  "  I  am  but 
a  foolish  young  thing;  scarcely  fit  for  so  great 
a  respouvsibility;  but  I  am  more  glad  and  thank- 
ful than  words  can  tell  that  the  darling  has  a 
good,  wise.  Christian  father  to  both  train  him 
and  set  him  a  good  example." 

"  It  is  a  cause  for  great  thankfulness,"  Elsie 
said,  "  but  never  forget,  dear  girl,  how  very 
great  and  important  is  a  mother's  influence; 
especially  in  the  early  years  when  the  strongest 
and  most  lasting  impressions  are  apt  to  be  made. 
No  doubt  you  feel — as  I  often  have,  often  do — 
like  cr}dng  out  in  the  midst  of  it  all,  *  Alas,  who 
is  sufficient  for  these  things! '  but  what  a  bless- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  17 

ingy  what  a  comfort  is  the  promise,  '  If  any  of 
you  lack  wisdom  let  him  ask  of  God  that  giveth 
to  all  men  liberally  and  upbraideth  not;  and  it 
shall  be  given  him.'  " 

"Oh,  those  are  comforting  texts!"  Marian 
said  with  a  look  of  relief.  "  I  wish  I  were  as 
well  acquainted  with  the  Bible  as  you  are, 
cousin." 

"  I  know  more  of  it  now  than  I  did  at  your 
age,"  Elsie  returned  in  a  reassuring  tone,  "  and 
you,  as  well  as  I,  have  it  at  hand  to  turn  to  in 
every  perplexity;  and  if  you  do  so  you  will  find 
the  truth  of  the  words  of  the  Psalmist,  ^  Thy 
word  is  a  lamp  to  my  feet  and  a  light  unto  my 
path.' " 

"Ah,  yes!  an  open  Bible  is  an  inestimable 
blessing,"  said  Arthur,  "  and  my  Marian  and  1 
will  endeavour  to  make  it  the  rule  of  our  life, 
the  man  of  our  counsel." 

At  that  moment  the  babe  stirred  and  opened 
its  eyes. 

"  Ah,  he  is  awake,  the  darling!  "  said  Marian. 
"  Don't  you  want  to  take  him  up,  papa,  and  let 
Cousin  Elsie  have  a  better  look  at  him?  " 

"Yes,   mamma;  as  you   know,   I   am   very 


18  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

proud  to  exhibit  my  son  and  heir/'  laughed  the 
doctor,  bending  over  the  crib,  gently  lifting  the 
babe  and  placing  it  in  Elsie's  arms,  smilingly 
outstretched  to  receive  it. 

"He  is  indeed  a  lovely  little  darling,"  she 
said,  gazing  on  it  with  admiring  eyes,  then 
softly  pressing  her  lips  to  the  velvet  cheek. 
"  There  is  nothing  sweeter  to  me  than  a  little 
helpless  babe.  I  hope  he  may  live  to  grow  up 
if  the  will  of  God  be  so,  and  I  think  he  is 
going  to  resemble  his  father,"  she  added  with 
a  most  affectionate  look  up  into  the  doctor's 
face. 

"If  he  equals  his  father  in  all  respects,  his 
mother  will  be  fully  satisfied,"  Marian  said  with 
a  happy  little  laugh. 

"  Ah,  love  is  blind,  dearest,"  was  Arthur's 
smiling  response. 

"  And  well  for  me  that  it  is  in  your  case,  as  I 
have  often  thought,"  she  said  in  sportive  tone, 
"  for  it  seems  to  hide  all  my  imperfections  and 
show  you  virtues  that  are  wholly  imaginary." 

"  Then  it  is  a  very  good  and  desirable  kind  of 
blindness,  I  think,"  remarked  Grandma  Elsie 
with  her  pleasant  smile. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  19 

"Now,  Cousin  Elsie,  please  tell  me  about 
Eosie,'^  Marian  requested  with  a  look  of  keen 
interest.  "  I  suppose  she  is  both  very  busy  and 
very  happy." 

"  Quite  busy  and  happy  too,  I  think,  except 
when  her  thoughts  turn  upon  the  approaching 
separation— partial  at  least — from  home  and  its 
loved  ones." 

"  And  doubtless  that  thought  makes  you  sad 
too,  cousin,"  sighed  Marian.  "  Ah,  what  a 
world  of  partings  it  is!  and  how  sudden  and 
unexpected  many  of  them  are." 

"  Yes;  but  there  are  none  in  that  happy  land 
to  which  we  are  journeying.  Ah,  what  a 
blessed  land  it  must  be!  no  sin,  no  sorrow,  pain 
or  care,  no  death,  but  eternal  life  at  the  foot  of 
the  dear  Master  whose  love  for  his  redeemed 
ones  is  greater,  tenderer  than  that  of  a  mother 
for  her  own  little  helpless  child." 

"How  intense  it  must  be!"  said  Marian 
musingly.  "  I  can  realise  that  now  as  I  never 
could  before  my  little  darling  came.  But  now, 
about  Rosie  and  her  betrothed.  Do  they  not 
expect  to  settle  somewhere  in  this  region, 
cousin?" 


80  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  think  that  question  remains  yet  to  "be 
fully  discussed;  it  is  certainly  still  undecided. 
Probably  they  will  not  for  some  time  settle  per- 
manently in  any  one  spot.  Mrs,  Croly  is  an  in- 
valid, almost  constantly  being  taken  from  place 
to  plaoe  in  search  of  health,  and  never  satisfied 
to  be  long  separated  from  either  husband  or 
son — her  only  child/^ 

"  Ah,  I'm  afraid  that  will  make  it  hard  for 
Rosie,"  said  Marian.  "  By  the  way,  I  think 
they  would  better  bring  her  here  and  put 
her  in  our  doctor's  care,"  she  added  with  a 
smiling  and  arch  look  up  into  her  husband's 
face. 

"Ah,  my  dear! "  he  said  with  a  slight  smile 
and  a  warning  shake  of  the  head,  "  don't  allow 
yourself  to  take  to  the  business  of  hunting  up 
cases  for  me;  especially  chronic  and  incurable 
ones." 

*'  But  is  she  so  bad  as  that?  "  asked  Marian, 
turning  to  her  cousin  Elsie  again. 

"  I  suppose  so,"  Elsie  replied.  "  I  have 
never  been  told  that  her  caee  was  considered 
incurable,  but  I  know  that  she  has  been  an 
invalid  for  many  years." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  81 

^^And  with  no  daughter  to  nurse  and  care 
for  her!  She  may  well  deem  herself  fortunate 
in  getting  one  so  sweet  and  bright  as  Eosie." 

"Eosie  has  had  no  experience  as  a  nurse/' 
said  her  mother,  "  but  she  is  kind-hearted  and 
I  hope  will  prove  a  pleasant  and  helpful  daugh- 
ter to  her  husband's  mother;  as  she  has  been  to 
her  own." 

"I  haven't  a  doubt  of  it.  And  is  the  wed- 
ding to  come  off  soon,  cousin  ?  " 

"  The  day  has  not  yet  been  set,"  replied  Mrs. 
Travilla,  with  a  slight  sigh  at  thought  of  the 
parting  that  must  follow,  ''  but  we  expect  to  fix 
upon  one  in  the  latter  part  of  June;  which  I 
hope  will  give  you  time  to  grow  strong  enough 
to  make  one  of  our  party.  But  I  fear  I  am 
keeping  you  talking  too  long,"  she  added,  ris- 
ing and  laying  the  babe,  who  had  fallen  asleep 
again,  gently  back  among  its  pillows. 

"  I  am  sure  your  call  has  done  me  good,  and  I 
hope  you  will  come  again  soon,  dear  cousin," 
Marian  said,  receiving  and  returning  a  farewell 
caress. 

"  Sometime  when  your  doctor  gives  permis- 
sion," was  Elsie's  smiling  reply.     ^^  Never  mind 


82  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

coming  down  with  me,  Arthur/'  she  added,  "  I 
know  the  way  and  have  a  son  waiting  there  on 
the  veranda  to  hand  me  into  the  carriage.  So 
good-hye,  and  don't  consider  it  necessary  to  wait 
for  sickness  among  iis  to  call  you  to  Ion/' 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Left  alone  upon  the  veranda  Harold  sat 
scanning  the  columns  of  the  morning  paper, 
when  a  light  step  drew  near,  a  pleasant  voice 
said,  "  Good-morning,"  and  looking  up  he 
found  Mrs.  Calhoun  Conly,  with  a  babe  in  her 
arms,  close  by  his  side. 

"  Oh!  good-morning  to  you.  Cousin  Mary," 
he  returned,  hastily  rising  and  gallantly  hand- 
ing her  to  a  seat.  "  I  am  glad  to  see  you  and 
the  little  one  looking  so  well." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  returned  merrily,  "  it 
would  be  a  pity  if  we  failed  to  keep  well  with 
so  many  doctors  about.  Were  you  waiting  to 
see  Arthur?  I  believe  he  is  in  the  house- 
probably  up  in  his  wife's  room — though  I  have 
not  seen  him  since  breakfast." 

"  Yes,  he  is  there,  sharing  with  Marian  a  call 
from  my  mother." 

"Ah!  that  is  nice  for  Marian;  she  has  been 
wanting  to  see  Cousin  Elsie  badly.     I  want  a 

83 


84  ELStt:  AT  HOME. 

call  froiP  her  too,  and  hope  she  will  not  forget 
me  when  through  with  my  sister-in-law." 

"  Hardly,  I  think;  it  is  not  mother's  way  to 
forget  anyone;  especially  so  near  and  dear  a 
relative  as  yourself.  Cousin  Mary.  But  don't 
set45  our  heart  on  a  long  call  this  morning,  for 
some  other  folks  want  the  doctor  if  you  don't." 

"  Ah!  and  your  mother  has  taken  up  the 
practice  of  medicine,  has  she  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  don't  say  that  exactly,  hut  certainly 
her  advice  and  suggestions  are  sometimes  more 
beneficial  to  the  patient  than  those  of  her  doc- 
tor son;  then  think  of  the  enviable  condition  of 
the  patient  who  can  have  both,"  returned 
Harold  laughingly.  "Ah,  here  comes  Cousin 
Cal! "  as  a  horseman  came  gaHoping  up  the 
avenue. 

"  Good-morning,  Harold!  "  Calhoun  said,  as 
he  alighted,  giving  his  steed  in  charge  to  a  serv- 
ant, and  came  up  the  veranda  steps.  "  I  have 
been  out  in  the  field  for  some  hours,  overseeing 
the  work  of  my  men,  saw  you  passing  a  few  mo- 
ments since  with  your  mother,  and  could  not 
resist  the  temptation  to  leave  them  and  come  in 
for  a  bit  of  chat  with  her  and  yourself." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  85 

"Especially  with  me,  of  course/'  laughed 
Harold  as  the  two  shook  hands  and  Calhoun, 
seating  himself  near  his  wife,  took  the  babe, 
which  was  stretching  out  its  arms  to  him  with  a 
cooing  invitation  not  to  be  resisted  by  the  dot- 
ing father. 

"  Mother's  particular  errand  this  morning 
was  a  call  upon  Marian;  she  is  paying  it  now, 
and  I  presume  will  be  down  in  the  course  of  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes,"  added  Harold. 

"  You  will  both  st^y  to  dinner,  w^on't  you?  " 
queried  Calhoun  hospitably.  "We'd  be  de- 
lighted to  have  you  do  so." 

"  That  we  would,"  added  his  wife  heartily. 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  Harold,  "  but  I  have 
some  rather  urgent  calls  to  make  and  hope  to 
get  mother  to  accompany  me.  I  know  of  no 
one  else  who  can  say  such  comforting  things 
to  the  sick  and  depressed." 

"  Nor  do  I,"  responded  Mrs.  Conly.  "  If  I 
am  in  the  least  depressed,  a  call  from  her,  or  a 
chat  with  her,  always  raises  my  spirits;  she  can 
always  show  you  a  silver  lining  to  the  cloud, 
however  dark  it  may  be." 

"  Yes,"  said  Harold,  "  her  faith  in  the  good- 


86  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

ness  and  love  of  God  is  so  strong  and  unwaver- 
ing, and  she  realizes  so  perfectly  that  life  in 
this  world  is  short  and  fleeting,  that  which 
follows  unending  and  full  of  bliss  to  all  who 
believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  she  is  ever  con- 
tent with  whatever  Providence  sends  her.  I 
never  knew  a  happier  Christian." 

"  Nor  I,"  said  Mary.  "  I  only  wish  we  were 
all  more  like  her  in  that  respect." 

^'  Yes,"  said  Calhoun,  "  and  I  believe  we  are 
every  one  of  us  the  happier  and  better  for 
knowing  her.  I  have  been  thinking  that  it  will 
be  hard  for  Kosie  to  leave  such  a  mother." 

"  That  it  will,"  sighed  Harold;  "  and  hard 
for  mother,  and  all  of  us  indeed,  to  part  with 
Eosie.  But  of  course  the  members  of  so  large 
a  family  as  ours  cannot  expect  to  remain  to- 
gether all  through  life." 

"  Yes;  weddings  are  apt  to  bring  both  joy 
and  sorrow,"  remarked  Mrs.  Conly  reflectively; 
"  the  forming  of  new  ties  and  the  breaking  of 
old  ones.  One  cannot  altogether  forget  the  old 
loves,  however  sweet  the  new  may  be;  but  when 
we  get  to  the  better  land  we  may  hope  to  have 
them  all,"  she  added  with  an  appreciative  glance 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  87 

at  her  husband.  "  Ah,  how  delightful  that  will 
be!" 

There  was  a  moment's  silence;  then  Harold 
said,  "  The  wedding  day  having  not  been  fixed 
yet  the  invitations  have  not  been  sent  out,  but 
I  know  mother  is  hoping  to  see  your  parents 
here  at  that  time.  Cousin  Mary." 

"  That  is  kind,"  she  returned  with  a  pleased 
smile;  "  I  supposed  they  would  be  invited,  and 
that  so  I  should  have  the  better  prospect  of 
getting  a  long  promised  visit  from  them  myself. 
But  if  you  invite  all  tlie  relatives  you  will  have 
a  great  many  guests  to  entertain — that  is  should 
all,  or  nearly  all,  accept.  However,  it  is  more 
than  likely  that  by  far  the  larger  number 
will  feel  constrained  to  content  themselves 
with  sending  regrets,  congratulations,  and 
gifts." 

"  I  hope,"  said  Harold  quickly  and  ear- 
nestly, "  I  am  sure  we  all  do — that  no  one  will 
feel  called  upon  for  that  last.  I  trust  that  will 
be  fully  understood.  Th^  parents  of  both 
bride  and  groom  being  abundantly  able  to  pro- 
vide everything  necessary  or  desirable,  why 
should  distant  relatives  and  friends  assist  in  it, 


88  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

perhaps  at  the  cost  of  embarrassment  or  self- 
denial?" 

"But  you  should  not  deny  the  privilege  to 
those  who  are  abundantly  able  and  would  feel 
it  a  pleasure/'  returned  Mary  with  playful  look 
and  tone;  "which  I  am  sure  is  the  case  with 
some  of  the  relatives/'  she  added. 

"No/'  said  Harold^  "I  should  not  deny  it,  but 
would  have  a  distinct  understanding  that  it  was 
not  expected  or  desired,  at  the  cost  of  hardship 
or  self-denial  to  the  giver,  or  his  or  her  nearer 
and  dearer  ones." 

At  that  moment  his  mother  stepped  from 
the  doonvay  into  the  veranda.  Very  warmly 
affectionate  greetings  were  exchanged,  she  was 
quickly  installed  in  an  easy-chair,  and  some 
moments  were  spent  in  lively  chat. 

"  Do  take  off  your  bonnet,  Cousin  Elsie,  and 
stay  and  dine  with  us,"  urged  Calhoun  hos- 
pitably. "  Our  young  doctor  here  insists  that 
he  cannot;  but  let  him  go  on  and  visit  the 
patients  he  thinks  need  his  services,  and  call 
here  again  for  you;  unless  you  will  allow  me 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  safely  home  later  in 
the  day." 


"ELSIE  AT  HOME.  8d 

"  Thank  you,  Cal/'  she  said  in  reply,  "  but 
Eosie  will  be  looking  out  for  her  mother — as  I 
promised  her  I  would  not  be  gone  very  long — 
and  I  want  to  see  some  of  my  boy's  patients 
myself,  and  to  make  a  little  call  at  Beechwood. 
You  know  they  are  all  relatives  there,  and 
Annis  and  I  very  old  and  dear  friends." 

"  Yes;  and  it  is  growing  late,"  said  Harold, 
consulting  his  watch;  "  so,  whenever  you  are 
ready,  mother,  we  will  start." 

"  I  am  that  now,"  she  answered,  rising  with 
the  words.  ^'  Good-bye,  Cousin  Mary.  Come 
over  to  Ion  whenever  you  can  make  it  conven- 
ient. And  when  you  write  home  be  as  urgent 
as  possible  in  your  entreaties  that  your  parents 
will  come  to  the  wedding  and  be  prepared  to  re- 
main in  the  neighbourhood  for  a  long  visit  after 
it  is  over." 

"  You  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  do  my  very 
best  to  bring  them  here  and  for  as  long  a  stay 
as  possible,"  was  Mary's  smiling  and  earnest 
reply. 

"  And  never  doubt,  cousin,  that  I  will  do  my 
best  to  second  her  efforts,"  said  Calhoun,  hand- 
ing her  into  the  carriage  as  he  spoke. 


00  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Will  there  be  time  for  a  call  at  Beechwood, 
Harold?"  she  asked  as  they  drove  down  the 
avenue. 

"  Oh,  yes,  mother!  I  think  so/'  he  replied. 
"I  have  but  two  calls  to  make  on  the  way,  and 
it  is  not  likely  either  need  be  very  long.'' 

"  I  would  not  have  anyone  neglected  for  my 
convenience/'  she  remarked  in  a  cheery  tone, 
"  but  should  be  glad  to  spend  a  half  hour  with 
Annis  if  I  can  do  so  w^ithout  loss  or  incon- 
venience to  anyone  else." 

"  Always  thoughtful  for  others,  mother 
dear/'  Harold  said,  giving  her  a  most  affection- 
ate look  and  smile.  "  I  think  you  may  trust 
me  not  to  neglect  my  patients." 

"  I  hope  so,  indeed,"  she  responded;  "  and 
that  you  will  never  be  less  careful  and  consider- 
ate of  the  poor  than  of  the  rich." 

Fortunately  they  found  all  doing  so  well  that 
no  lengthened  call  was  necessary,  and  they 
reached  Beechwood  in  season  to  allow  quite  a 
long  chat  between  the  lady  cousins  before  it 
would  be  time  for  Mrs.  Travilla  and  her  son  to 
set  out  on  their  return  to  Ion. 

They  found  Mr.  Lilbum  and  Annis  seated 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  91 

upon  the  front  veranda,  she  with  a  bit  of 
needlework  in  her  hands,  he  reading  aloud  to 
her.  He  closed  his  book  as  the  carriage  drove 
up,  and  laying  it  aside,  hastened  to  assist  his 
Cousin  Elsie  to  alight,  greeting  her  with 
warmth  of  affection  as  he  did  so.  Annis 
dropped  her  work  and  hastened  to  meet  and 
embrace  her,  saying: 

"  Oh,  but  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Elsie!  I  had 
letters  this  morning  from  Mildred  and  Zilla, 
both  bringing  a  great  deal  of  love  to  you  and 
a  cordial  invitation  to  you  and  yours — as 
well  as  my  husband  and  myself — to  pay  them  a 
visit  this  summer.  They  have  not  yet  heard  of 
Eosie^s  approaching  marriage,  I  find." 

"  But  must  hear  of  it  very  soon,"  Elsie  said 
with  a  smile.  "  As  soon  as  the  important  day 
is  fixed  upon  I  must  send  out  my  invitations; 
and  you  may  rest  assured  that  none  of  our  rela- 
tives will  be  forgotten  or  neglected;  certainly 
not  one  of  your  sisters  or  brothers." 

"  No,  my  dear  cousin,  it  would  not  be  at  all 
like  you  to  neglect  any  of  them,"  returned 
Annis  with  a  smile  of  loving  appreciation. 
"Ah,  Harold! "  turning  to  him  as,  having  se- 


92  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

cured  his  horse,  he  came  up  the  veranda  steps 
and  joined  their  little  group,  "  I  am  glad  to  see 
you;  especially  as,  like  a  dear,  good  boy,  you 
have  brought  your  mother  along," 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  grasping  cordially  the  hand 
she  held  out,  "  I  find  I  am  sure  of  a  welcome 
anywhere  when  I  am  fortunate  enough  to  in- 
duce mother  to  accompany  me.  Sick  or  well, 
everybody  is  glad  to  see  her." 

"  You  also,  I  presume;  especially  if  they  are 
sick." 

"  And  can't  get  Cousin  Arthur,"  he  added. 
"  A  young  doctor  is  better  than  none;  though 
an  old  and  tried  physician  is  deemed  the  best — 
by  sensible  people." 

"  Ah,  ha;  ah,  ha;  um,  hm!  so  it  would  seem, 
laddie,  yet  sometimes  the  young  fellows  hae  a 
new  trick  the  auld  hardly  ken  aboot,"  remarked 
Cousin  Konald  with  a  good-humoured  smile. 
"  And  for  my  ain  seF  I  should  care  little-^-were 
I  ill — whether  it  were  Doctor  Arthur  or  Doctor 
Harold  that  prescribed  the  remedies  to  be  used." 

"  Or  Doctor  Herbert;  Herbert  might  do  just 
as  well  as  either  of  the  two^  I  presume/'  added 
Annis. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  93 

"  We  have  just  come  from  a  call  at  Roselands 
to  see  Marian  and  your  little  namesake.  Cousin 
Ronald,"  said  Mrs.  Travilla.  "He  is  a  dear 
little  fellow,  and  I  hope  will  grow  up  in  a  way 
to  do  honour  to  the  name." 

"  I  hope  he  may,  and  to  be  a  great  comfort 
and  blessing  to  the  parents  who  have  done  me 
the  honour  to  call  their  firstborn  for  me,"  re- 
turned the  old  gentleman,  a  gleam  of  pleasure 
lighting  up  his  face.  "  I  want  to  see  the  bit 
bairn  myself  when  the  mother  is  well  enough 
to  enjoy  a  call  from  her  auld  kinsman.  And 
how  soon  do  you  think  that  may  be,  doctor?  " 
he  asked,  turning  to  Harold. 

"  In  a  few  days,  sir,  should  she  continue  to 
gain  strength  as  she  seems  to  be  doing  now.  I 
have  no  doubt  she  will  be  very  glad  to  see  both 
you  and  Cousin  Annis." 

"  Yes;  I  must  go  along,  for  I  want  to  see 
both  the  boy  and  his  mother.  Marian  will 
make  a  sweet  mother,  I  think;  and  Arthur  an 
excellent  father,"  said  Annis. 

"  I  quite  agree  with  you  in  that  idea,"  Elsie 
said,  "and  their  joy  in  the  possession  of  the 
little  fellow  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  see.     By  the 


94  ELSIE  AT  HOME, 

way,  where  are  Cousin  Ella  and  her  little 
ones?  '^ 

"  Hugh  has  taken  them  out  driving/'  replied 
Mr.  Lilburn.  "  There  is  nothing  the  bit 
bairnies  like  better  than  that." 

"I  am  sorry  to  miss  seeing  them,  but  it  is 
time  we  were  on  our  homeward  route/'  Elsie 
said,  consulting  her  watch. 

They  were  kindly  urged  to  remain  longer, 
but  declined,  bade  adieu,  and  were  presently 
driving  on  toward  Ion. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

■  At  Ion  Rosie  was  pacing  the  veranda  as  her 
mother  and  Harold  drove  up.  She  hailed  them 
eagerly  as  they  alighted. 

"At  last!  I  began  to  think  you  must  have 
yielded  to  a  most  urgent  invitation  to  stay  to 
dinner  at  Roselands^  Beechwood,  or  Wood- 
burn.^^ 

"No/'  said  her  mother;  "invitations  were 
not  lacking,  but  were  steadily  declined  for  the 
sake  of  my  daughter  Rosie,  who  I  knew  would 
be  sadly  disappointed  if  her  mother  failed  to 
keep  her  promise  not  to  remain  long  away  from 
her  to-day.  So  here  we  are;  and  I  see  you  have 
news  to  impart/'  she  added  with  a  smiling 
glance  at  a  letter  in  Rosie's  hand. 

"Yes,  mamma/'  returned  the  young  girl, 
smiling  and  blushing  as  she  spoke.  "  It  is  from 
Will,  and  incloses  a  Httle  note  from  his  mother 
— such  a  nice,  kind,  affectionate  one — saying 
she  is  glad  she  is  to  have  a  daughter  at  last,  and 

95 


96  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

she  wants  to  make  my  acquaintance  as  soon  as 
possible." 

They  had  seated  themselves,  and  Harold,  hav- 
ing given  his  horse  into  the  care  of  a  stable  boy, 
now  followed  them,  asking  in  a  gay,  bantering 
tone: 

"  Am  I  intruding  upon  a  private  conference, 
Rosie?  I  know  mother  may  be  intrusted  with 
secrets  which  you  might  prefer  not  to  give  into 
my  keeping." 

"  Certainly  that  is  so,  but  this  is  not  one  of 
that  kind,  and  you  may  listen  if  you  care  to," 
returned  Rosie  with  a  light  laugh;  then  she  re- 
peated the  item  of  news  just  given  her  mother. 

"  Ah\  I  wonder  if  she  does  not  want  an  invi- 
tation to  pay  us  a  visit,"  said  Harold. 

"  Wait,"  laughed  Rosie;  "  I  have  not  told  you 
all  yet.  She  goes  on  to  speak  of  Cousin  Arthur 
as  a  physician  in  whom  she  has  great  confi- 
dence, and  to  say  that  she  would  like  to  be  in  his 
care  for  at  least  a  time;  so  if  we  can  recommend 
a  good  boarding  place  somewhere  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood she,  her  husband,  and  son  will  come 
and  take  possession  for  weeks  or  months;  at 
least  until  after  the  wedding." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  97 

"  By  the  way/'^  said  Harold,  "  I  thought  I 
had  heard  that  Mrs.  Croly  had  nearly  or  quite 
recovered  her  health  while  in  Europe  a  few 
years  ago.  You  know  at  the  time  Will  was  so 
nearly  drowned  they  had  just  returned  from  a 
visit  there." 

"  Yes/'  replied  Kosie;  "  she  had  been  greatly 
benefited,  but  her  health  has  failed  again  within 
the  last  year  or  two — so  Will  has  told  me.  I 
do  hope  she  may  come  here — into  this  neigh- 
bourhood— and  that  Cousin  Arthur  may  suc- 
ceed in  helping  her  very  much.'' 

"  Yes,  I  hope  so,"  said  Harold.  "  He  will 
be  glad  indeed  of  an  opportunity  to  make  some 
return  for  their  very  liberal  treatment  of  him 
in  acknowledgment  of  his  service  to  their  son. 
They  feel  that  they  owe  that  son's  life  to  Ar- 
thur's persistent  efforts  to  resuscitate  him  when 
he  was  taken  from  the  sea  apparently  dead." 

"  Will  himself  is  very  grateful  to  him,"  said 
Eosie.  "  He  has  told  me  that  he  feels  he  owes 
his  life  to  Doctor  Arthur  and  that  nothing  can 
ever  fully  repay  the  obligation." 

"  Yes;  he  has  talked  to  me  in  the  same  strain 
more  than  once  or  twice,"  said  Harold.     "  Now 


98  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

I  think  of  it;,  I  should  not  be  at  all  surprised  if 
they  would  be  willing  to  take  the  Crolys  in  at 
Koselands  for  a  time.  There  is  a  good  deal  of 
unoccupied  room  in  the  house,  and  having  her 
there  would  enable  Arthur  to  watch  the  case 
closely  and  do  everything  possible  for  her 
restoration  to  health." 

*^  Oh,  that  would  be  a  grand  plan! "  ex- 
claimed Rosie.  "  Though  perhaps  it  would 
make  too  much  care  for  our  lady  cousins — Mary 
and  Marian." 

"  Well,  we  won't  suggest  it,"  returned  Har- 
old, "but  just  tell  Arthur  her  wishes — Mrs. 
Croly's,  I  mean — and  let  him  give  his  opinion 
in  regard  to  possible  boarding  places.  Would 
not  that  be  the  better  plan,  mother  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  she  said,  taking  «*t  her  watch 
as  she  spoke.  "  Ah!  it  wants  but  five  minutes 
of  the  dinner  hour.  I  must  go  at  once  to  my 
rooms  and  make  ready  for  the  summons  to  the 
table." 

It  was  not  thought  worth  while  to  make  Mrs. 
Croly's  request  a  secret  from  any  member  of  the 
family,  so  the  matter  was  talked  over  among 
them  as  they  sat  together  on  the  veranda  that 


3SLSIE  AT  HOMS.  dd 

evening,  and  the  different  boarding  places  in 
the  vicinity  were  considered.  It  was  feared 
none  of  them  could  furnish  quite  such  accom- 
modations as  might  be  desired  without  placing 
the  invalid  farther  from  her  physician  than 
would  be  convenient  for  the  constant  oversight 
of  the  case  which  they  supposed  he  would  want 
to  exercise. 

"  Well,  evidently/'  remarked  Herbert  at 
length,  "  we  will  have  to  refer  the  question  to 
Cousin  Arthur  himself.  And  here  he  comes, 
most  opportunely,"  as  a  horseman  turned  in  at 
the  avenue  gates. 

He  was  greeted  with  warmth  of  cordiality  and 
speedily  installed  in  a  luxuriously  easy  chair. 

"I  was  passing,"  he  said,  "and  though  I 
don't  like  to  be  long  away  from  my  wife  and 
boy,  I  felt  an  irresistible  inclination  to  give  my 
Ion  relatives  and  friends  a  brief  call." 

"And  omitting  that  ugly  word  brief,  it  is 
just  exactly  what  we  are  all  delighted  to  re- 
ceive," laughed  Zoe. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Dinsmore,  "  we  were  talking 
of  you  and  wanting  your  opinion  on  a  certain 
matter  under  discussion." 


100  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"Ah,  what  was  that?"  Arthur  asked  in  re- 
turn, and  Mr.  Dinsmore  went  on  to  explain, 
telling  of  the  desire  of  Mrs.  Croly  to  put  her- 
self under  his  care  for  at  least  a  time,  and  ask- 
ing his  opinion  of  the  various  boarding  places 
in  the  vicinity. 

"Boarding  places!"  he  exclaimed.  "We 
would  be  only  too  glad  to  receive  her  as  a  guest 
at  Eoselands;  for  as  you  all  know  I  feel  under 
great  obligation  to  Mr.  Croly,  her  husband;  be- 
sides, it  would  make  it  ^luch  easier  for  me  to 
take  charge  of  her  case.  Poor  dear  woman!  I 
hope  she  may  be  at  least  partially,  if  not  en- 
tirely, restored  to  health." 

"  That  proposal  is  just  what  one  might  ex- 
pect of  you.  Cousin  Arthur,"  said  Grandma 
Elsie,  giving  him  a  look  of  affectionate  appre- 
ciation; "  but  are  you  quite  sure  it  would  suit 
CaPs  convenience,  and  that  of  your  wife  and 
his?  " 

"  Knowing  all  three  as  I  do,  I  can  scarcely 
doubt  it,"  replied  Arthur;  "but  perhaps  I 
would  better  consult  them  before  sending  the 
invitation  to  the  Crolys.  I  will  do  so,  and  you 
shall  hear  from  me  early  to-morrow  or  possibly 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  101 

to-night/'  he  added.  "  Marian,  I  am  sure,  will 
feel  very  much  as  I  do  about  it,"  he  went  on 
presently,  "  but  just  now  the  burden  would  fall 
more  upon  Sister  Mary;  so  that  I  think  I  must 
not  give  the  invitation  unless  she  is  entirely 
willing." 

"Which  I  feel  almost  certain  she  will  be," 
said  Kosie.  "  But  I  will  wait  to  hear  from 
you.  Cousin  Arthur,  before  answering  my 
letters." 

"You  shall  hear  at  an  early  hour,"  he  re- 
turned. 

"  Mary  is  hoping  to  have  her  parents  here  for 
the  wedding  and  for  a  long  visit  afterward," 
remarked  Grandma  Elsie,  "  but  you  have  room 
enough  to  accommodate  both  them  and  the 
Crolys,  I  think." 

"Oh,  yes!"  replied  Arthur,  "there  need  be 
no  difficulty  about  that.  Our  house  is  large 
and  the  regular  dwellers  in  it  are  far  less  numer- 
ous than  they  were  in  my  young  days.  Ah, 
how  widely  scattered  they  are,"  he  continued 
half  musingly — "my  sisters  Isadore  and  Vir- 
ginia in  Louisiana — Molly  and  Dick  Percival 
there  too,  with  Betty  and  Bob  Johnson;  my 


102  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

brothers  Walter  and  Ralph — the  one  in  the 
army,  the  other  in  California.  Sister  Ella,  the 
only  one  near  at  hand,  living  at  Beechwood; 
Cal  and  I  the  only  ones  left  in  the  old  home." 

^^ Where  you  are  very  happy;  are  you  not?" 
asked  his  cousin  Elsie  in  a  cheery  tone  and  with 
an  affectionate  smile  into  his  eyes. 

"Yes,"  he  answered,  returning  the  smile; 
"  Cal  with  his  charming  wife  and  two  dear  little 
children,  I  with  my  sweet  Marian  and  a  baby 
boy  of  whom  any  father  might  well  be  proud 
and  fond.  And  I  must  be  going  back  to  them," 
he  added,  rising,  and  with  a  hasty  good-night  to 
all,  he  took  his  departure. 

He  was  scarcely  out  of  sight  when  the  Beech- 
wood  and  Woodburn  carriages  turned  in  at  the 
gates,  the  one  bringing  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ronald 
Lilbum,  the  other  Captain  Raymond,  his  wife, 
and  his  daughters  Lucilla  and  Grace. 

All  were  received  with  warm  and  joyous 
greetings.  They  had  started  out  for  a  drive, 
met  and  exchanged  salutations,  had  then  de- 
cided to  call  together  upon  their  Ion  relatives; 
a  not  very  unusual  proceeding. 

And  scarcely  were  they  seated  when  Mr.  and 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  103 

Mrs.  Leland  and  Evelyn  were  seen  coming  up 
the  drive,  having  walked  over  from  Fairview, 
tempted  to  do  so  by  the  beauty  of  the  evening 
and  the  prospect  of  the  pleasure  of  a  chat  with 
the  very  near  and  dear  dwellers  in  the  old  home 
at  Ion,  who  never  seemed  weary  of  their  com- 
panionship, though  scarcely  a  day  passed  in 
which  they  had  not  more  or  less  of  it. 

Nor  was  the  communication  with  Woodburn 
much  less  frequent,  though  it  was  farther  away 
by  a  mile  or  more;  for  with  their  abundance  of 
steeds  and  conveyances  of  various  sorts,  it  could 
be  traversed  with  such  ease,  expedition,  and 
comfort  that  it  seemed  little  or  no  incon- 
venience; the  short  ride  or  drive  was  really  a 
pleasure;  though  not  infrequently  it  was  made 
a  walk  when  roads  were  in  good  condition  and 
the  weather  was  propitious. 

The  welcome  of  the  Fairview  party  was  not 
less  cordial  than  had  been  that  of  the  others, 
and  presently  all  were  seated  aind  a  buzz  of  con- 
versation ensued. 

The  young  girls  made  a  little  group  by  them- 
selves and  of  course  the  approaching  wedding, 
with  the  preparations  for  it,  was  the  principal 


104  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

theme  of  their  talk.  Eosie,  not  caring  to  have 
secrets  from  these  very  near  and  dear  young 
friends,  told  of  the  letters  received  that  morning 
and  the  talk  just  held  with  Dr.  Conly. 

^'  Oh,  that  was  noble  in  Cousin  Arthur!  "  ex- 
claimed Lucilla.  "  The  Crolys  were  very 
generous  to  him,  to  be  sure,  but  not  at  all  more 
so  than  he  deserved." 

^^No,"  said  Kosie;  ^'^they  were  quite  able  to 
pay  him  what  they  did;  but  it  isn't  everyone 
who  would  have  done  so,  and  I  have  always 
thought  well  of  them  for  it;  and  I  am  glad 
Cousin  Arthur  can  make  them  some  small 
return." 

"  But  should  he  succeed  in  restoring  Mrs. 
Croly  to  health,  that  will  not  be  a  very  small 
return,  I  think,"  said  Evelyn  with  a  smile. 

"  No;  for  good  health  is  the  greatest  of 
earthly  blessings,"  said  Grace.  "  One  can 
hardly  fully  enjoy  anything  without  it." 

^^As  you  know  by  experience,  you  poor 
thing! "  said  Rosie. 

"Oh,  no!  not  now." 

"  Have  you  fixed  upon  the  wedding  day  yet, 
Rosie?"  asked  Lucilla. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  105 

"No,  not  definitely;  we  have  only  decided 
that  it  shall  be  somewhere  about  the  middle  of 
June;  or  perhaps  a  little  later.  I  want  to  make 
sure  of  having  Walter  here;  for  it  would  be  too 
bad  to  have  him  miss  his  youngest  sister's 
wedding." 

"  And  you  want  Marian  to  have  time  to  get 
well,  too,  don't  you?  "  said  Grace. 

"  Oh,  yes,  indeed!  and  she  will  be  by  that 
time;  at  least  she  seems  altogether  likely  to  be. 
Mamma  was  there  to-day  and  found  her  doing 
nicely." 

"  Hark!  What  is  that  Cousin  Konald  is 
saying?  "  exclaimed  Lucilla,  and  they  paused  in 
their  talk  to  listen. 

"  I  want  you  all,  old  and  young,"  he  said  in 
his  blithe,  cordial  tones,  "  to  come  and  have  as 
good  and  merry  a  time  as  possible,  to  celebrate 
the  third  birthday  of  my  little  namesake  grand- 
son. We  talked  the  thing  over  at  the  dinner 
table  and  all  agreed  that  there  could  beino  bet- 
ter way  of  celebrating  that  most  important 
event." 

"  It  certainly  is  a  delightful  time  of  year  for 
an  outdoor  party  in  this  region  of  country," 


106  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

remarked  Mrs.  Dinsmore,  "and  I,  for  one,  ac- 
cept the  invitation  with  pleasure." 

"  As  I  do/^  said  her  husband. 

"  And  I!  "  "  And  I!  "  "  And  I!  "  added  the 
others  in  turn. 

The  young  girls  were  highly  pleased:  it  was 
by  no  means  tWfeir  first  invitation  to  Beechwood, 
and  they  felt  sure  of  being  hospitably  and  well 
entertained.  Ella,  Hugh's  wife,  had  been 
mistress  of  the  mansion  before  the  marriage 
of  the  old  gentleman  and  Annis,  and  so  con- 
tinued to  be,  with  Annis'  full  consent,  but  there 
was  no  jarring  between  them;  they  were  con- 
genial spirits,  and  enjoyed  each  other's  society. 
Ella  was  fond  of  the  old  gentleman,  too, — the 
only  father  she  had  ever  known, — and  her  lit- 
tle ones,  Ronald  and  his  baby  sister,  w^ere  to 
all  a  strong  bond  of  union. 

"  It  is  to  be  an  afternoon  party,  I  sup- 
pose ?  "  remarked  Mrs.  Dinsmore  in  a  tone  of 
inquiry. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Lilburn.  "  Come  as  early 
as  you  please,  bringing  all  the  little  folks  as 
the  guests  of  our  bit  laddie.  We  will  have  an 
early  supper  for  their  s  <kes,  and  after  that  the 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  Iu7 

parents  can  carry  them  home  and  see  them  in 
their  nests  as  early  as  they  Uke." 

"  And  both  parents  and  little  folks  may  stay 
as  late  as  they  like,"  added  Annis  with  a  smile. 

"  Yes,"  said  her  husband,  "  each  and  every 
guest  may  feel  free  to  do  that." 

"I  hope  you  are  not  too  busy  to  come, 
Eosie  ?  "  said  Annis,  turning  to  her. 

"  Thank  you,  no;  I  should  not  like  to  miss  the 
fun  of  attending  little  Ronald's  birthday  party," 
returned  Rosie  in  a  sprightly  tone,  "  and  you 
must  be  sure  to  bring  him  to  the  party  I  am  to 
have  some  weeks  later." 

"  That,  of  course,  will  have  to  be  as  his  father 
and  mother  say,"  laughed  Annis. 

"  Well,  he  shall  not  lack  an  invitation,"  said 
Eosie.  "  I  do  not  intend  that  any  of  my  rela- 
tives shall.  By  the  way,  I  hope  your  nephew, 
Cousin  Donald  Keith,  will  be  able  to  get  a  fur- 
lough, so  that  he  can  come.  He  has  visited  us 
several  times,  here  and  at  the  seashore,  and  I 
like  him  very  much  indeed." 

"  Yes,  so  do  I,"  said  Annis,  "  and  I  hope  he 
may  be  able  to  come.  I  should  enjoy  showing 
him  my  new  home  and  entertaining  him  there." 


108  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"He  will  be  in  demand  if  he  comes/'  said 
Captain  Kaymond.  "  I  shall  want  him  as  my 
guest;  for  he  and  I  are  old  attached  friends." 

"Ah,  yes,  I  remember,"  said  Annis.  "No 
doubt  he  will  want  to  be  with  you  a  part  of  his 
time." 

"  Yes,"  said  Grandma  Elsie;  "  and  as  we  will 
all  want  him  we  will  have  to  divide  the  pleas- 
ure of  his  visit  among  us — if  he  will  allow  it." 

"  I  have  always  liked  and  admired  Cousin 
Donald,"  said  Violet,  "  and  often  wondered  that 
he  has  remained  single  all  these  years." 

"  He  has  not  happened  to  meet  the  right  one 
yet,  I  suppose,  my  dear,"  the  captain  said  with 
a  smile.  "  Or,  if  he  has  met  her,  has  failed  to 
secure  her." 

"And  in  doing  so  has  caused  her  to  miss 
securing  an  excellent  husband,  I  think,"  said 
Violet. 

"In  which  I  certainly  agree  with  you," 
Annis  said.  "All  my  married  nephews  seem  to 
me  to  be  admirable  husbands.  I  hope,  Elsie, 
that  Cyril  Keith  and  his  Isadore  may  be  able 
to  come  to  the  wedding." 

"  So  do  I,"  responded  Mrs.  Travilla  heartily; 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  109 

^^  and  if  they  fail  to  come  you  may  be  assured 
it  was  not  for  lack  of  a  warm  invitation." 

"  I  hope  they  and  all  the  other  cousins  from 
that  region  will  come,"  remarked  Mrs.  Leland. 

Just  then  the  telephone  bell  rang. 

"There!  that  is  Cousin  Arthur,  I  presume/' 
said  Edward  Travilla,  hastening  to  the 
instrument. 

His  answering  ring  and  "  Hello ! "  were 
quickly  replied  to,  and  the  next  moment  he 
announced  to  the  company,  "  It  was  Arthur. 
He  says  all  is  right,  and  Rosie  may  send  as  warm 
an  invitation  as  possible.  They  will  be  only  too 
glad  to  receive  the  '■"  ^ee  Crolys  as  their  guests." 

"  Oh,  that  is  good!  "  cried  Rosie.  "  Now  I 
shall  be  able  to  send  my  reply  by  to-morrow's 
early  mail." 

"Yes,  Cousin  Arthur  was  very  kindly 
prompt;  as  indeed  he  always  is,"  said  her 
mother. 

"Quite  true,  mother,"  gaid  Harold;  "and 
Herbert  and  I  try  to  copy  him  in  that,  feeling 
that  it  is  very  necessary  in  a  physician  to  be 
ready,  able,  and  willing  to  answer  a  call  for  his 
services  with  expedition." 


110  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

^'That  it  is,  laddie/^  responded  Cousin 
Ronald,  "  for  a  life  sometimes  depends  on  get- 
ting quick  help  frae  the  doctor.  The  life  of 
a  faithfu'  medical  mon  is  one  of  toil  and  self- 
denial;  a  fact  that  has  made  me  wonder  that  you 
and  your  Cousin  Herbert,  here,  chose  it  rather 
than  a  vocation  that  wad  be  somewhat 
easier." 

"  It  is  a  hard  life  in  some  respects,"  Harold 
answered;  "but  there  is  something  very  de- 
lightful in  having  and  using  the  ability  to 
relieve  suffering,  and  surely  one  who  professes 
to  be  a  follower  of  Christ  should  be  seeking  to 
do  good  to  others  rather  than  courting  his  own 
ease  and  enjoyment." 

"  Yes;  copying  the  dear  Master's  own  ex- 
ample," returned  the  old  gentleman  with  a 
smile.  "  The  dear  Master  who  should  be  our 
pattern  in  all  things." 

"Yes,"  said  Herbert,  low  and  feelingly, 
"  that  is  what  we  both  sincerely  desire  to  do.'' 

It  was  still  early  when  the  callers  bade  good- 
night and  took  their  departure;  the  Lilburns 
going  first,  then  the  Raymonds,  and  lastly  the 
Lelands. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  Ill 

All  met  again  the  next  day  at  Beechwood, 
where  they  were  joined  by  the  other  members 
of  the  family  connexion  and  had  a  very  pleas- 
ant afternoon,  mostly  taken  up  with  sports 
suited  to  the  entertainment  of  the  little  ones — 
three-year-old  Eonald  and  his  baby  cousins. 

The  invitations  had  been  sent  out  too  late  to 
allow  time  for  the  purchase  of  many  gifts,  but 
there  were  fruits  and  flowers,  and  some  few 
toys;  among  these  last,  animals  which  ventrilo- 
quism caused  apparently  to  say  very  amusing 
things,  to  the  surprise  and  merriment  of  the 
little  folks. 

Then,  when  they  began  to  tire  of  fun  and 
frolic,  they  were  seated  about  a  table  under 
the  trees  on  the  lawn,  and  regaled  with  tooth- 
some viands,  not  too  rich  for  their  powers  of 
digestion.  After  that  they  were  allowed  to 
sport  upon  the  verandas  and  the  grass,  while 
the  elder  people  gathered  about  the  table  and 
satisfied  their  appetites  with  somewhat  richer 
and  more  elaborate  viands. 

They  had  finished  their  meal  and  were 
gathered  in  groups  under  the  trees  or  on  the 
verandas,  when  the  sound  of  a  banjo  caused  a 


112  ELSIE  AT  SOME. 

sudden  hush  of  expectancy.  Glances  were  sent 
here  and  there  in  search  of  the  musician,  yet 
no  one  was  greatly  surprised  that  he  was  not 
visible.  Several  tunes  were  played;  then  fol- 
lowed a  song  in  the  negro  dialect,  which  made 
everybody  laugh. 

That  was  the  winding  up  of  the  entertain- 
ment, and,  as  it  was  nearing  the  bedtime  of  the 
little  ones,  all  presently  bade  good-bye,  with 
truthful  assurances  of  having  greatly  enjoyed 
themselves,  and  returned  to  their  homea. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  Woodburn  carriage  was  quite  full  with 
the  captain  and  his  entire  family,  excepting,  of 
course,  his  eldest  son.  Max,  who  was  far  away 
on  board  a  man-of-war. 

"Well,"  said  Violet,  as  they  drove  out  of 
Beechwood  Avenue  into  the  highway,  "  I  have 
enjoyed  little  Ronald's  birthday  party  very 
much,  and  hope  you  can  all  say  the  same." 

"  Oh,  yes,  mamma!  I  think  we  had  good  fun," 
exclaimed  Neddie.  "  To  be  sure  Ronald  is 
only  a  baby  boy — just  about  half  as  old  as  I  am 
— but  he's  a  very  dear  little  fellow;  and  then  his 
grandpa  made  a  great  deal  of  fun  for  us." 

"  Sometimes  it  was  his  papa  who  did  it,  I 
think,"  said  Elsie. 

"  Oh,  yes! "  said  Ned.  "  Papa,  why  don't 
you  do  such  things  for  us  sometimes?  " 

"  Really,  my  son,  I  do  not  seem  to  have  any 
talent  in  that  line,"  returned  the  captain  with  a 
smile.     "  Your  brother  Max  has,  however,  and 

113 


114  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

I  hope  that,  some  of  these  days,  he  will  come 
home  and  make  the  fun  for  you  that  you  are  so 
eager  for." 

"  Oh,  I'll  be  so  glad!  And  will  he  teach  me 
how  to  do  it,  too  ?  " 

"  I  hardly  think  he  can,"  his  father  answered, 
with  an  amused  look;  "  at  least,  not  till  you  are 
a  good  deal  older  than  you  are  now." 

"  Well,  I'm  getting  older  every  day;  mamma 
tells  me  so  when  she  wants  me  to  behave  like  a 
little  gentleman." 

"  Which  is  always,  Neddie  boy,"  Tiolet  said, 
with  an  amused  look. 

"  Yes,  my  son,  both  mamma  and  papa  want 
their  little  boy  to  be  always  a  little  gentleman 
— kind,  courteous,  and  thoughtful  for  others," 
the  captain  said,  softly  patting  the  little  hand 
laid  confidingly  on  his  knee. 

"  Lu,  do  you  know  if  Rosie  sent  off  those  im- 
portant letters  this  morning?"  asked  Violet. 

"  Yes,  she  told  me  she  did;  also  that  she  had 
learned  from  Cousin  Mary  that  Cousin  Arthur 
had  written  a  warm  invitation  from  himself 
and  his  wife,  and  from  her  and  Cousin  Cal,  and 
sent  it  by  the  early  morning  mail.     I  presume 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  115 

they  will  be  received  by  the  Crolys  to-morrow 
and  that  two  or  three  days  later  the  reply  will 
come." 

"  I  think  it  can  hardly  fail  to  be  an  accept- 
ance," said  Violet.  "  I  shall  be  glad  of  the 
opportunity  to  make  the  acquaintance  of  Rosie's 
future  mother-in-law, — the  father-in-law  too, — 
and  I  dare  say  Will  is  anxious  to  have  them 
know  mamma,  and  perhaps  the  rest  of  us." 

"  And,  having  done  so  they  will  be  all  the 
more  pleased  with  the  match,"  added  the  cap- 
tain. ^^  By  the  way,  my  dear,  we  must  keep 
open  house  for  the  entertainment  of  family 
connections  when  they  are  here  to  attend  the 
wedding." 

"  I  am  entirely  willing,"  Violet  answered 
with  a  smile;  "  as  well  I  may  be  when  my  hus- 
band bears  all  the  expense  and  does  the  plan- 
ning, with  the  housekeeper's  assistance,  and  she 
directs  the  servants,  who  do  all  the  work. 
Really  I  do  not  know  where  a  more  fortunate 
woman  than  I  can  be  found." 

"  Nor  I  where  a  more  appreciative  wife  could 
be  discovered,"  returned  the  captain,  regard- 
ing her  with  a  smile  of  profound  affection. 


116  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  hope  Captain  Keith  will  be  one  of  our 
guests/'  said  Grace.  "  I  liked  him  very  much 
when  he  visited  us  that  time  at  the  seashore. 
Didn't  you,  Lu?" 

As  the  question  was  asked  the  captain  turned 
a  quick,  inquiring  look  upon  his  eldest  daugh- 
ter, which,  however,  she  did  not  seem  to  notice. 

"  Yes,"  she  said  rather  indifferently,  "  T 
liked  him  well  enough;  and  I  remember  he  was 
pleasant  and  kind  at  West  Point — showing  us 
about  and  explaining  things.  But  even  if  he 
hadn't  been  so  kind  and  obliging  I  should  be 
glad  to  entertain  him  as  papa's  friend,"  she 
added.     "  Were  you   boys   together,   father? " 

"  No,"  laughed  the  captain;  "  if  I  am  not  mis- 
taken I  am  fully  ten  years  older  than  Captain 
Keith." 

"  Why,  papa,  I  don't  think  you  look  like  it. 
And  you  are  such  great  friends,"  exclaimed 
Lucilla. 

"  Well,  my  child,  people  may  be  great  friends 
without  being  very  near  of  an  age,"  laughed 
her  father.  "  For  instance,  are  not  you  and  I 
great  friends?  " 

"  Oh,  we  are  lovers,"  she  answered  with  a 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  117 

bright  smile  up  into  his  eyes.  "  But  then  we 
are  not  of  the  same  sex." 

"And  that,  you  think,  makes  a  difference, 
eh?"  he  laughed.  "But  Max  and  Ned  seem 
to  love  me  nearly  as  well  as  my  daughters  do." 

"  Every  bit  as  much,  papa! "  exclaimed  Ned 
earnestly.     "I  do,  I'm  sure." 

"  That  is  pleasant  to  hear,  my  boy,"  his 
father  said,  smiling  fondly  upon  the  little  fel- 
low. "  And  I  presume  brother  Max  would  say 
the  same  if  he  were  here.  Ah,  we  have  reached 
home ":  for  at  that  moment  the  carriage 
turned  in  at  the  great  gates. 

"  Our  own  sweet,  lovely  home! "  said  Grace, 
looking  out  upon  the  beautiful  grounds  with 
shining  eyes.  "  I  am  always  glad  to  get  back 
to  it,  no  matter  where  I  have  been." 

"  I  too,"  said  Lucilla;  "  unless  my  father  is 
somewhere  else,"  she  added,  giving  him  a  most 
loving  look. 

"  Ah,  I  wasn't  thinking  of  being  in  it  with- 
out papa,"  said  Grace.  "I'd  rather  live  in  a 
hovel  with  him  than  in  a  palace  without 
him." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  my  darling,"  he  returned. 


118  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

^^  I  am  entirely  sure  of  the  love  of  both  of  you, 
and  of  all  my  children." 

"And  of  your  wife,  I  hope,"  added  Violet 
in  a  sprightly  tone. 

"  Yes,  indeed,  my  love,  or  I  should  not  be  the 
happy  man  I  am,"  he  responded;  then,  as  the 
carriage  drew  up  before  the  entrance  to  the 
mansion,  he  threw  open  the  door,  alighted,  and 
handed  them  out  in  turn. 

"  The  children  seem  to  be  tired,"  remarked 
Violet;  "  do  you  not  think  they  might  as  well 
go  at  once  to  their  beds,  my  dear?  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said.  "  Grace  also;  for  she  looks 
as  weary  as  they." 

"  Thank  you,  papa,"  she  said.  "  I  am  tired 
enough  to  be  glad  to  do  so.  But  don't  be  anx- 
ious," she  added  with  a  smile,  as  he  gave  her  a 
troubled  look;  "  I  am  not  at  all  sick;  it  is  only 
weariness."  And  she  held  up  her  face  for  a 
kiss,  which  he  gave  heartily  and  with  a  look  of 
tenderest  fatherly  affection. 

The  two  little  ones  claimed  their  turn;  then 
Violet  and  the  three  went  upstairs,  leaving  the 
captain  and  Lucilla  alone  together. 

"  Pidn't  you  say  you  had  some  letters  to 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  119 

write  when  you  came  home,  papa?  "  she  asked; 
^^  and  can't  I  help  you?  " 

"  I  say  yes  to  both  questions,"  he  answered 
pleasantly.  ^^  Take  off  your  hat  and  come  with 
me  into  the  library.  But  perhaps  you  are  too 
tired/'  he  added  hastily,  as  if  just  struck  by  the 
thought.  "  If  so,  daughter,  I  would  not  have 
you  exert  yourself  to  do  the  work  now.  It  can 
wait  till  to-morrow  morning.  Or,  if  I  find 
anything  needing  an  immediate  reply,  I  can 
attend  to  it  myself,  without  my  little  girl's 
assistance." 

"  But  I  am  not  tired,  papa,  and  I  dearly 
love  to  help  you  in  any  and  every  way  that  I 
can,"  she  answered,  smiling  up  into  his  eyes. 

"  I  do  not  doubt  it  in  the  least,  my  child," 
he  said,  laying  his  hand  on  her  head  in  tender, 
fatherly  fashion;  "  and  you  are  a  very  great 
help  and  comfort  to  me;  so  much  so  that  I  shall 
be  extremely  loath  ever  to  let  anybody  rob  me 
of  my  dear  eldest  daughter." 

"  I  hardly  think  anybody  wants  to  yet,  papa," 
she  laughed;  "  nobody  seems  to  set  anything 
like  the  value  upon  me  that  you  do.  So  you 
needn't  bp  in  th^  le^st  afraid  of  ever  being 


120  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

robbed  of  this  one  of  your  treasures.  Ah,  papa! 
it  is  so  nice — such  a  happiness  to  have  you  es- 
teem me  a  treasure,  and  to  know  that  I  belong 
to  you." 

"A  happiness  to  me  as  well  as  to  you,  dear 
child,"  he  said.  "  Well,  we  will  look  at  the  let- 
ters and  decide  whether  it  is  necessary  to 
answer  any  of  them  to-night." 

They  had  entered  the  library  and  drawn  near 
the  table  while  they  talked.  A  pile  of  letters 
lay  upon  it.  He  took  them  up  and  glanced 
at  the  superscription  upon  each. 

"  Ah!  here  is  one  directed  to  you,  daughter," 
he  said,  "  and  from  someone  in  this  neighbor- 
hood; for  it  is  without  a  stamp." 

"Probably  from  Maud  or  Sydney,"  she  re- 
marked. 

^'  No,"  said  her  father,  "  the  handwriting  is 
evidently  that  of  a  man.  Well,  you  may  open 
it  and  se€  who  the  writer  is,"  handing  it  to  her 
as  he  spoke. 

"  If  you  would  rather  I  did  not,  papa,  I  do 
not  want  to,"  she  said,  not  offering  to  take  it. 
"  Please  read  it  first." 

"  r  can  trust  you,  daughter,  and  you  have  my 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  121 

full  permission  to  read  it/'  he  said  iii  a  kindly 
indulgent  tone. 

"  Thank  you,  papa;  but  I  really  prefer  to 
have  you  read  it  first/'  she  replied. 

He  smiled  approval,  broke  the  seal,  and 
glanced  over  the  missive. 

"It  is  from  Chester  Dinsmore/'  he  said; 
"merely  an  invitation  to  you  to  go  with  him 
to  a  boating  party  on  the  river,  if  your  father 
gives  consent." 

"Which  I  don't  believe  my  father  will/' 
laughed  Lucilla. 

"  And  you  are  not  anxious  that  he  should?  " 
he  queried  with  a  smile. 

"  Not  unless  he  is  entirely  willing  to  have  me 
go;  and  hardly  even  then,  as  he  is  not  to  be  one 
of  the  party." 

"  That  is  my  own  good  little  girl,"  he  said, 
putting  an  arm  about  her,  di^awing  her  close 
to  his  side,  and  kissing  her  several  times.  "  I 
am  not  willing  to  have  you  a  young  lady  yet, — 
as  I  think  you  know, — but  I  want  to  keep  you 
my  own  little  girl  for  some  time  longer." 

"  I  am  very  glad  that  you  do,  papa,"  she  re- 
turned, laying  her  head  against  his  breast  and 


12-2  EL8IE  AT  HOME. 

putting  her  arms  about  his  neck,  "  and  I  hope 
you  won't  ever,  ever  grow  tired  of  keeping  me 
for  your  own,  altogether  yours,  with  no  part- 
ner in  the  concern,"  she  added  with  a  low,  glee- 
ful laugh. 

"  You  need  have  no  fear  that  I  will  grow  tired 
of  it  until  you  do,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  and  re- 
peating his  caresses.  "  But  when  that  time 
comes  do  not  hesitate  to  tell  me:  for,  rest 
assured,  your  happiness  is  very  dear  to  your 
father's  heart.  And  if  you  would  like  to  accept 
this  invitation,  you  may  do  so  with  my  full 
consent." 

"  Thank  you,  father  dear,  but  I  really  do  not 
care  to  go;  I  should  mucii  prefer  to  keep  the 
engagement  already  made,  for  that  day." 

"Ah!  what  is  that?" 

"  Now,  papa,  have  you  forgotten  that  you  are 
to  take  Mamma  Vi,  Gracie,  and  me  into  the 
city  to  do  some  shopping?  " 

"  Ah,  yes;  I  had  forgotten  it  for  the  moment. 
But  I  dare  say  both  your  mamma  and  Grace 
would  be  willing  to  defer  that  for  a  day  or 
two." 

"But   I   wouldn't,   because   my   father  has 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  123 

taught  me  not  to  break  engagements  without 
very  strong  reasons;  which  I  don't  think  I  have 
in  this  case." 

He  laughed  a  little  at  that.  '^  Well,  daugh- 
ter," he  said,  "  you  shall  do  as  you  please  about 
it,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  that  you  are  so  good 
at  remembering  your  father's  instructions  and 
so  ready  to  obey  them." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  And  now  must  I  an- 
swer Chester's  note — or  will  you  do  it  for 
me?" 

"  That  shall  be  just  as  you  please,  daughter. 
Perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  for  you  to  write 
the  answer;  but,  if  you  greatly  prefer  to  have 
me  do  so,  I  shall  not  refuse." 

"  May  I  do  it  on  the  typewriter?  " 

^^  If  you  prefer  it,  I  see  no  objection." 

"I  do  prefer  it;  it  is  so  much  easier  and 
quicker  than  working  with  a  pen,"  she  said. 

"Perhaps  you  would  better  wait  until  to- 
morrow morning,  however,"  he  suggested; 
"  for,  on  thinking  the  matter  over,  you  may  find 
that  you  prefer  to  accept  the  invitation  after 
all." 

He  was  examining  the  rest  of  his  mail,  and 


124  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

she  considered  his  proposition  for  a  moment 
before  replying  to  it. 

"  Yes,  papa/^  she  said  at  length,  "  I  will  wait 
a  little — perhaps  till  to-morrow  morning — be- 
fore writing  my  answer.  And  now  I  will  get 
ready  to  write  replies  to  those  letters  at  your 
dictation." 

"  Yes,  daughter;  fortunately  there  are  but 
few  that  call  for  a  reply,  and  it  need  not  be 
long  in  any  case."  He  laid  down  the  letters 
and  took  the  cover  from  the  machine  as  he 
spoke,  then  supplied  her  with  paper  and  en- 
velopes, put  a  sheet  into  the  machine,  and  began 
dictating.  They  made  quick  work  of  it,  and 
had  finished  in  about  half  an  hour. 

Violet  joined  them  Just  as  Lulu  took  the 
last  sheet  from  the  machine. 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  "  I  see  you  are  busy;  but  I 
will  not  interrupt." 

'^  We  are  just  done,  my  dear,  and  very  glad 
to  have  you  with  us,"  said  her  husband. 

"  Yes,  Mamma  Vi,  this  is  the  last  letter  papa 
wants  written  for  him,  and  you  are  just  in 
time  to  help  me  decide  on  a  reply  to^  one  of 
my  own." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  125 

"  Willingly,  if  you  wish  it;  but  I  should  say 
your  father's  advice  would  be  worth  far  more 
than  mine,"  returned  Violet  in  a  sprightly 
tone.  "  Levis,  my  dear,  do  you  refuse  to  tell 
her  what  to  do  or  say?  " 

"I  only  advise  her  to  follow  her  own  incli- 
nation— if  she  can  find  out  what  that  is,"  he 
answered,  regarding  Lucilla  with  a  smile  that 
seemed  a  mixture  of  fatherly  affection  and 
amusement. 

"  Yes,  papa  is  so  dear  and  kind  he  won't  give 
me  any  order  at  all,  and  I  am  so  used  to  being 
directed  and  controlled  by  him  that  it  really 
seems  hard  work  to  decide  for  myself,"  laughed 
Lucilla. 

"But  what  about?  My  curiosity  is  keenly 
aroused,"  said  Violet,  glancing  from  one  to  the 
other. 

"  An  invitation  for  me  to  go  boating  and  pic- 
nicking day  after  to-morrow,"  returned  Lucilla. 
"You  may  read  it,"  handing  Chester's  note 
to  Violet.  "  I  have  no  very  strong  inclination 
to  accept, — especially  as  we  are  expecting  to 
take  that  day  for  our  shopping  expedition  to 
the  city, — but  papa  seems  to  thinly  I  should 


126  ELSIE  AT  HOME, 

hardly  decline  on  that  account.  Still  he  leaves 
me  free  to  decline  or  accept  as  I  please,  and 
though  I  have  often  wished  he  would,  when  he 
wouldn't,  this  time  I  wish  he  wouldn't  when  he 
will ";  she  ended  with  a  hearty  laugh. 

"And  I  suppose  your  conclusion  is  that 
fathers  are  sometimes  very  doubtful  blessings,^' 
the  captain  said,  assuming  a  grave  and  troubled 
air. 

She  gave  him  a  startled  look.  "  Oh,  papa! 
surely  you  are  not  in  earnest?  surely  you  know 
that  I  was  not  ?  "  she  exclaimed  beseechingly. 

He  smiled  and  held  out  his  hand.  She 
sprang  to  his  side  and  he  drew  her  to  a  seat 
upon  his  knee. 

"  Yes,  daughter,  dear,  I  do,"  he  said,  caress- 
ing her  hair  and  cheek  with  his  hand,  "  and  I, 
too,  was  but  jesting;  I  am  troubled  with  no 
doubts  of  the  sincere,  ardent  affection  of  my 
eldest  daughter." 

"  Yes,"  said  Violet  with  a  smile,  "  I  think 
she  very  nearly  makes  an  idol  of  her  father— 
which  is  not  surprising  considering  what  a  dear, 
good  father  he  is.  Well,  I  have  read  the  note, 
Lu,  and  I  think,  if  I  were  you,  I  would  accept 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  127 

the  invitation.  Don't  you  think,  my  dear,  that 
we  might  do  the  shopping  to-morrow?  " 

^^  Certainly,  if  it  suits  you,  my  love,"  he  re- 
plied. "  I  do  not  know  why  to-morrow  would 
not  suit  for  that  business  as  well  as  the  next 
day." 

"  And  that  leaves  you  free  to  accept  Chester's 
invitation,  Lu." 

"  Yes,  and  I  begin  to  feel  as  if  I  might  en- 
joy it  right  well  if " 

"  If  what,  daughter?  "  her  father  asked,  as 
she  paused,  leaving  her  sentence  unfinished. 

"  If  I  were  perfectly  sure  you  would  not 
rather  I  did  not  go,  papa." 

"I  think  I  can  trust  you  to  behave  well, 
even  out  of  my  sight,"  he  returned  with  a  smile, 
and  in  a  jesting  tone;  "and  though  I  still  call 
you  my  little  girl,  that  is  more  as  a  term  of  en- 
dearment than  anything  else;  and  I  really  think 
you  are  large  enough,  old  enough,  and  good 
enough  to  be  trusted,  occasionally,  out  of  my 
sight^ — away  from  my  side." 

"  Thank  you,  papa  dear,"  she  said,  her  eyes 
shining;  "  it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  hear  you  say 
that,  and  I  certainly  do  intend  to  conduct  my- 


128  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

self  exactly  as  I  think  you  would  wish;  so  now 
I  will  answer  Chester's  note  with  an  acceptance 
of  his  invitation/'  she  added^  leaving  her 
father's  knee  and  seating  herself  before  the 
typewriter.  "  I'll  make  it  short  and  submit  it 
to  you,  papa,  for  approval." 

"  About  that,  too,  you  may  do  exactly  as  you 
please,"  he  responded,  stepping  to  her  side  and 
putting  the  paper  in  for  her,  as  when  she  was 
about  to  write  for  him. 

She  made  quick  work,  saying  only  what 
seemed  necessary,  submitted  it  to  her  father's 
and  Violet^s  verdict,  which  was  altogether 
favourable,  then  directed  an  envelope,  placed 
the  note  in  it,  and  sealed  it,  saying,  "  There!  it 
is  all  ready  to  go  early  to-morrow  morning,  and 
will  be  no  hindrance  to  me  in  getting  ready  for 
the  shopping  expedition." 

"  Which,  perhaps,  you  will  enjoy  nearly  as 
much  as  the  boating  party,"  remarked  Violet 
in  a  jesting  tone. 

"  Probably  more,"  responded  Lu cilia;  "  at 
least  if  we  are  successful  in  finding  very  suit- 
able and  handsome  wedding  gifts  for  Eosie. 
Father,  how  much  may  I  spend  on  one?" 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  129 

"I  think  not  more  than  a  hundred  dollars." 

"  Oh!  may  I  have  so  much  as  that  for  it? 
You  dear,  good  papa!  "  she  exclaimed. 

"I  am  well  able  to  afford  it,"  he  returned 
pleasantly,  "  and  should  be  sorry  to  let  my 
daughters  give  other  than  valuable  wedding 
gifts  to  my  wife's  sister." 

*'  Thank  you,  my  dear,"  said  Violet  with  a 
gratified  look.  "I  have  no  doubt  Rosie  will 
appreciate  your  and  your  daughter's  kindness, 
as  she  certainly  ought  to." 

"  Grandma  Elsie  has  been  very,  very  kind  to 
us,"  said  Lucilla,  and  her  father  added: 

"  She  has,  indeed!  I  can  never  forget  how 
kindly  she  took  my  children  in  when  I  was  un- 
able to  provide  them  with  a  good  and  happy 
home." 

^^  Hark!  I  hear  carriage  wheels  on  the  drive; 
we  are  going  to  have  callers,"  exclaimed  Lu- 
cilla, and,  as  she  spoke,  they  all  rose  and  went 
out  upon  the  veranda  to  receive  their  guests. 

They  proved  to  be  Maud,  Sydney,  and  Frank 
Dinsmore,  from  the  Oaks;  and,  when  greet- 
ings had  been  exchanged,  they  said  their 
errand  was  to  speak  of  the  boating  party,  and 


130  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

ask  if  Grace  could  go;  also  if  Lucilla  had  re- 
ceived Chester's  invitation  and  meant  to 
accept  it.  Chester  would  have  come  himself 
but  had  an  unavoidable  business  engagement 
for  the  evening. 

"  I  have  given  Lucilla  permission  to  go,"  the 
captain  replied,  "  but  Grace  is  not  strong 
enough  for  the  exertion  she  would  be  likely  to 
make  without  her  father  at  hand  to  caution  and 
care  for  her." 

"  Oh,  I  am  sorry!  "  said  Maud.  "  I  hoped 
Gracie  could  go  and  would  enjoy  it.  But  I 
am  glad  we  may  tell  Chester  that  Lu  can." 

"  I  have  written  my  acceptance  of  his  kind 
invitation,"  Lulu  said,  "  and  will  send  it  in  the 
morning." 

"  Captain,"  said  Frank,  "  if  you  will  let  Miss 
Grace  go  I  promise  to  take  all  possible  care  of 
her.  Won't  it  seem  a  trifle  hard  to  her  to  have 
to  stay  at  home  while  her  sister  and  the  rest 
of  us  are  having  such  a  good  time?  " 

"I  think  not,"  the  captain  answered.  "Grace 
is  the  best  and  most  dutiful  of  daughters,  always 
satisfied  with  her  father's  decisions;  thinking  he 
knows  what  is  best  for  her.    Also  ghe  loves  her 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  131 

home  and  home  pleasures;  indeed  thinks  there 
is  no  other  place  quite  equal  to  home." 

"  It  is  a  lovely  place,  that's  a  fact/'  Frank  re- 
turned with  a  slight  laugh,  "  but  variety  is  the 
spice  of  life,  and  possibly  Miss  Grace's  health 
might  be  better  if  she  tried  more  of  that 
spice." 

"  I  think  that  if  you  ask  her  you  will  learn 
that  a  pleasant  variety  is  not,  and  has  not  been, 
lacking  in  her  experience  of  life,"  was  the  cap- 
tain's pleasant-toned  rejoinder. 

"  I  am  sure  of  it,"  remarked  Maud.  "  I 
never  knew  anybody  who  seemed  to  me  happier 
or  more  light-hearted  than  Gracie.  And,  oh, 
but  she  dotes  upon  her  father!  " 

"As  all  his  children  do,"  said  Lucilla,  giv- 
ing him  a  look  of  ardent  affection. 

"  You  will  not  keep  my  daughter  out  very 
late  ?  "  the  captain  said,  addressing  Frank  in  a 
tone  of  inquiry. 

"  Fo,  sir;  we  expect  to  get  home  before  dark. 
But  if  anything  should  happen  to  detain  us 
you  need  not  be  uneasy.  We  will  take  good 
care  of  her  and  return  her  to  you  in  safety." 

"We  are  staying  out  rather  late  now  our- 


132  t:L8tE  AT  HOME!. 

selves,  Frank,  and  I  think  should  be  starting  for 
home/'  said  Maud,  rising  and  ^urning  to  Violet 
to  begin  her  adieus. 

"  Father/'  said  Lucilla,  turning  to  him  when 
their  callers  had  gone,  "  please  don't  let  me  go 
at  all  if  you  expect  to  be  the  least  bit  anxious 
about  me.  I  would  far  rather  stay  at  home 
than  cause  you  a  moment's  uneasiness." 

"  My  dear  child,  I  must  allow  you  a  little 
liberty — let  you  out  of  my  sight  sometimes/' 
he  said  with  a  smile.  "  But  it  pleases  me  that 
you  are  so  ready  and  willing  to  do  whatever 
you  find  most  pleasing  to  your  father/'  he 
added,  pressing  aifectionately  the  hand  she  had 
put  into  his. 

"  Are  you  not  afraid  my  father  will  make  me 
miserably  conceited — giving  me  so  much  more 
commendation  than  I  deserve  ?  "  she  asked  with 
a  roguish  look  and  pleased  laugh. 

"  I  hope  not;  you  will  fall  very  much  in  my 
estimation  if  you  grow  conceited  and  vain.  I 
do  not  think  you  that  now;  but,  remember,  love 
is  blind,  and  your  father's  love  for  you  is  very 
great." 

"  Yes,  you  dear  papa,  I  know  that  and  it 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  133 

makes  me,  oh,  so  happy,"  she  said  with  joyous 
look  and  tone. 

"  As  I  think  you  have  reason  to  he,  Lu," 
A^iolet  said,  regarding  her  hushand  and  his 
daughter  with  a  smile  of  pleased  sympathy. 

"  It  is  time  for  our  evening  service,  and  then 
for  my  daughter  to  go  to  her  hed  and  take  her 
beauty  sleep,"  remarked  the  captain  looking  at 
his  watch. 

^^Yes,  papa,"  laughed  Lucilla,  "I  need  all 
of  that  kind  of  sleep  that  I  can  get." 


CHAPTER  X. 

'^Ah!  so  you  are  up,Gracie  dear/'  Liicilla  said, 
looking  in  the  next  morning  at  the  communi- 
cating door  between  their  rooms.  "  I  have 
been  down  in  the  grounds  with  papa  for  the 
last  half  hour,  and  he  bade  me  come  and  tell 
you  to  dress  for  a  drive;  for  we  are  to  go  on 
our  shopping  expedition  to-day  instead  of  to- 
morrow." 

*^  Are  we?  "  exclaimed  Grace.  '^  To-day  will 
suit  me  as  well  as  to-morrow;  but  why  have  papa 
and  mamma  changed  their  plans?" 

"  It  is  all  for  my  benefit/'  laughed  Lucilla. 
'^  You  must  know  that  Chester  Dinsmore  has 
been  so  good  as  to  invite  me  to  attend  a  boat 
ride  and  picnic  with  him  to-morrow,  and,  to  my 
surprise,  papa  gave  me  full  permission  to  go." 

''That  was  very  kind  of  him,"  remarked 
Grace,  "  and  I  hope  you  will  have  a  delightful 
time." 

134 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  135 

"  I  don't  know/'  Lulu  returned,  with  doubt- 
ful tone  and  look.  "  I  think  I  shall  not  half 
enjoy  it  without  you;  and  papa  says  you  are  too 
feeble  to  go  on  such  an  expedition  without 
him;  you  would  need  him  to  take  care  of  you 
and  see  that  you  did  not  overexert  yourself." 

"  Yes;  and,  of  course,  papa  is  right;  he  always 
knows  what  is  best  for  me  and  all  of  us." 

"  So  I  think,  and  I  did  not  at  all  expect  him 
to  say  I  could  go.  I  wasn't  very  anxious  that 
he  should,  either;  though  I  dare  say  it  will  be 
very  pleasant  as  the  Dinsmore  girls  are  going, 
and,  perhaps,  Kosie  Travilla  too." 

^^  Oh,  I  think  you  will  enjoy  it!  I  hope  so, 
I  am  sure,"  exclaimed  Grace,  looking  both 
pleased  and  interested.  "  Now  please  tell  me 
what  dress  you  are  going  to  wear  to  the  city  to- 
day, and  advise  me  about  mine." 

"  I  hadn't  thought  about  it,  yet,"  said  Lu- 
cilla;  "  but  there,  I  hear  papa  coming  into  our 
sitting  room.  I'll  run  and  ask  him  what  he 
would  advise  or  direct  about  it.  It  is  a  matter 
of  great  importance,  you  know  ";  and  with  that 
she  laughed  merrily,  turned  about,  and  ran  to 
meet  their  father. 


136  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

He  decided  the  knotty  question,  promptly 
saying:  "  The  gray  dresses  made  for  you  both 
a  few  weeks  ago  will  be  very  suitable,  I  think." 
Then  he  bade  her  help  Grace  and  also  change 
her  own  dress,  because  they  would  make  an 
early  start  for  the  city,  going  very  soon  after 
leaving  the  table. 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  that,  papa,"  she  re- 
turned, "  for  a  drive  in  the  early  morning  air 
is  so  pleasant.  But  I  wish  I  had  no  occasion  to 
change  my  dress,  because  I  fear  that  will  take 
up  all  the  time  of  your  morning  call  here  on 
Gracie  and  me." 

"  I  think  not,  if  you  are  prompt  in  your 
movements,"  he  said.  "  I  shall  sit  here  for 
some  little  time  reading  the  morning  paper." 

"Oh,  I  am  glad  of  that!  and  perhaps,  papa, 
if  you  look  over  the  advertisements  you  may 
find  something  that  will  help  us  in  the  search 
for  the  pretty  things  we  want  to  buy." 

"  Very  possibly,"  he  replied.  "  I  will  look 
them  over  at  once." 

"  Thank  you,  sir.  I'll  do  as  you  bid  me  and 
be  back  again  as  soon  as  ever  I  can;  for  I  don't 
like  to  lose  a  minute  of  my  father's  morning 


^LStB  AT  JioMK  13t 

call/'  she  said,  giving  him  a  bright,  loving  look, 
then  hurrying  back  to  her  sister. 

"  We'll  have  to  make  haste,  Gracie,"  she  said, 
"  if  we  don't  want  to  miss  altogether  our  morn- 
ing chat  with  papa.  We  are  to  wear  our  new 
gray  dresses,  he  says." 

"  That  suits  me  nicely,  for  I  think  them  be- 
coming, pretty,  and  suitable.     Don't  you?  " 

"  Yes;  I  think  nobody  has  better  taste  or 
judgment  about  dress  than  our  father." 

"  Just  my  opinion;  and  we  may  well  think  so, 
considering  how  many  lovely  dresses  and  orna- 
ments he  has  bought  for  us,  selecting  them 
without  the  help  or  advice  of  anyone.  There, 
sister  dear,  your  dress  is  on  all  right  and  I  shall 
make  haste  to  change  mine  while  you  put  the 
finishing  touches  to  your  attire." 

They  joined  their  father  in  a  few  moments, 
talked  over  the  advertisements  he  had  been  ex- 
amining and  the  question  of  the  desirability  of 
this  and  that  article  as  a  wedding  gift  to  Rosie, 
but  had  reached  no  decision  when  the  break- 
fast bell  rang. 

"Well,  daughters,"  the  captain  said,  "we 
will  go  down  now  to  our  breakfast  and,  while 


138  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

we  are  eating,  talk  the  matter  over  with  your 
mamma.  She  probably  knows  better  than  we 
what  would  be  likely  to  please  Rosie/' 

"  But  we  do  not  need  to  decide  until  we  see 
the  things,  do  we,  papa?  "  asked  Lucilla. 

"  No,  certainly  not,  and  we  may  find  some- 
thing very  handsome  and  suitable  that  we  have 
not  thought  of.  I  hope  it  will  be  a  pleasure 
to  both  of  you  to  look  over  the  pretty  things 
and  make  a  selection." 

"  You  dear  father,"  Grace  said,  smiling  up 
into  his  eyes,  "  you  are  always  thinking  of  some- 
thing to  give  your  children  pleasure." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  returning  her  smile,  "  per- 
haps because  it  reacts  upon  myself,  giving  me  a 
great  deal  of  pleasure." 

They  found  Violet  and  the  little  ones  already 
in  the  breakfast  room;  morning  greetings  were 
exchanged,  then  they  seated  themselves  at  the 
table,  the  captain  asked  a  blessing,  and  the 
meal  began. 

They  chatted  pleasantly  while  eating,  the 
principal  subject  of  discourse  being  their  errand 
to  the  city.  Violet  had  not  heard  Rosie  express 
a  desire  for  any  particular  thing,  but  thought 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  139 

they  would  probably  see  something  in  the 
stores  that  would  strike  them  as  handsome  and 
suitable. 

"Is  Elsie  going  with  you  to-day,  papa?  and 
am  I  ?  "  asked  Neddie. 

"  Yes,  my  son,  if  you  want  to  go,"  the  captain 
replied.  "  And  would  you  like  to  buy  some 
gifts  for  Aunt  Rosie,  too?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes  indeed,  papa! "  cried  both 
children,  Elsie  adding :  "  But  I  have  only  a  lit- 
tle money.  I'm  afraid  it  won't  be  enough  to 
buy  anything  handsome  enough  for  a  wedding 
present." 

"  Well,"  their  father  said  reflectively,  "  you 
have  been  good  children,  and  I  feel  in- 
clined to  give  you  each  a  present  of  ten  dollars, 
which  you  may  dispose  of  as  you  like." 

"  Oh,  thank  you,  papa! "  both  cried  delight- 
edly, Ned  adding:  "  I  s'pose  it's  for  us  to  buy 
something  for  Aunt  Rosie  with;  isn't  it,  papa?  " 

"  If  you  want  to  use  it  for  that  you  may;  but 
you  are  not  compelled  to  do  so;  you  can  spend  it 
for  someone  else,  or  for  yourself  if  you  choose.'^ 

"  I'm  going  to  spend  mine  for  Aunt  Rosie," 
Elsie  announced.     "  It  was  very  nice  and  kind 


UO  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

in  her  to  choose  me  for  a  flower  girl  at  her 
wedding,  and  I'd  like  to  give  her  something 
very  pretty;  something  that  she  would  like. 
Mamma,  you  will  help  me  to  choose  my  present, 
wonH  you  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,  daughter;  and  I  am  sure 
your  papa  and  sisters  will  help  us  in  cfiir 
selection.    They  all  have  good  taste." 

"  And  y'll  all  help  me,  too,  won't  you  "  asked 
Ned.  "  I  want  to  buy  the  prettiest  thing  I 
can  find  for  Aunt  Rosie." 

"  Yes;  you  shall  have  all  the  advice  you  want, 
my  son,"  his  father  said.  "  And  now,  as  you 
have  all  finished  eating,  we  will  go  to  the 
library  and  have  family  worship;  then  make 
ourselves  ready  and  set  off  upon  our  trip  to  the 
city." 

"  I  think  we  couldn't  have  selected  a  better 
time  for  our  expedition,"  Violet  said  as  they 
entered  their  carriage;  "  the  air  is  bracing,  the 
w^eather  delightful,  and  the  roads  are  in  excel- 
lent order,  are  they  not,  my  dear?  " 

"  Yes,"  the  captain  answered,  "  we  could  ask 
no  improvement,  and  I  think  will  travel  rapidly 
enough  to  reach  the  city  in  very  good  season." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  Ul 

They  did  so  and  were  successful  in  finding 
what  they  esteemed  beautiful  gifts  for  the  com- 
ing bridal.  And  Rosie's  pleasure  on  receiving 
them  was  as  great  as  they,  the  givers,  had 
hoped.  She  had  many  handsome  and  valuable 
presents,  but  none  seemed  to  gratify  her  more 
than  these  from  her  Woodburn  relatives  and 
friends. 

"  I  like  those  gray  dresses  of  yours,  girls;  they 
are  both  pretty  and  becoming,  and  very  suit- 
able for  such  a  trip  as  we  have  taken  to-day," 
remarked  Violet  as  they  rode  homeward. 
"  You  will  wear  yours  to  the  picnic  to-morrow, 
I  suppose,  Lu?" 

"  If  papa  approves,"  answered  Lueilla  with  a 
laughing  look  at  him. 

"  Entirely,"  he  said;  '^  though  I  shall  not  in- 
sist if  you  prefer  something  else." 

"  That  reminds  me  of  some  of  my  Nantucket 
experiences  of  years  ago,"  she  remarked.  ^'  Do 
you  remember,  papa,  how  I  missed  going  to 
the  '  squantum '  wdth  the  rest  of  you  because  I 
took  off  the  suitable  dress  Mamma  Vi  had  di- 
rected me  to  wear,  and  donned  some  very 
unsuitable  finery?  " 


142  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Yes/'  he  replied,  "  that  was  an  unhappy 
time  for  both  the  rebellions  little  girl  and  her 
father." 

"  Yes,  papa;  oh,  I'm  afraid  I  gave  you  many 
a  heartache  in  those  days.  I  remember  I 
wanted  very  much  to  dress  in  white  for  the 
clambake,  some  weeks  after  that,  but  yoa 
wouldn't  allow  it.  I  was  a  very  foolish  little 
girl,  and  now  I  am  very  glad  I  had  a  wise,  kind 
father  to  keep  me  in  order." 

"  You  were  not  rebellious  about  that  second 
disappointment,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "  and  in 
the  years  that  have  passed  since  then  you  have 
learned  to  be  very  submissive  to  your  father's 
wishes  and  directions." 

"  Yes,  sir,  because  I  have  found  out  from  ex- 
perience that  he  is  far  wiser  than  I,  and  always 
seeks  my  best  interests." 

"  That  is  certainly  what  he  wishes  to  do, 
daughter;  for  the  welfare  of  all  his  dear  chil- 
dren lies  very  near  his  heart." 

"  Yes,  papa;  you  love  us  all,  I  know,"  little 
Elsie  said  with  a  bright,  glad  look  up  into  his 
face. 

"  Of  course  papa  does,"  said  Neddie;  "  if  he 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  143 

didn^t  he  wouldn't  give  us  money  to  spend, 
and  ever  so  many  other  nice  things;  or  take  us 
to  the  city  for  such  a  good  time  as  we  have  had 
to-day." 

"  Yes,  our  dear  papa  is  very  good  to  us  all," 
said  Grace.  "  We  have  had  a  delightful  drive, 
a  fine  time  in  the  city,  and  now  here  we  are  at 
our  own  lovely  home  again,"  she  added  as  the 
carriage  turned  in  at  the  great  gates. 

"  It  is  nearing  tea  time,  daughters,  and  you 
had  better  go  at  once  to  your  rooms  and  make 
yourselves  neat  for  the  evening,"  the  captain 
said  as  he  helped  Lucilla  and  Grace  to  alight. 

"Yes,  sir,"  they  answered  and  hastened  up 
the  broad  stairway,  following  Violet  and  the 
two  little  ones. 

"  Dere's  a  gemman  in  de  parlour  a-waitin'  for 
to  see  you,  cap'in,"  said  a  servant,  coming 
leisurely  in  from  the  back  veranda. 

"  Ah!  has  he  been  here  long?  " 

"'Bout  ten  minutes,  I  reckon,  sah." 

The  captain  hastened  into  the  parlour  and 
found  Chester  Dinsmore  there.  Cordial  greet- 
ings were  exchanged,  and  Chester  received  a 
warm  invitation  to  stay  to  tea,  which,  however^ 


144  EL8IB  AT  HOME. 

he  declined,  saying  that  he  had  a  little  profes- 
sional work  on  hand  which  must  be  done  that 
evening  if  he  was  to  take  to-morrow  for  a  holi- 
day. "  I  came  over,  captain/'  he  added,  "  to 
thank  you  for  allowing  me  the  privilege  of  tak- 
ing your  daughter.  Miss  Lucilla,  to  the  picnie 
to-morrow,  and  to  ask  if — if  you  would  not 
be  so  very  kind  as  to  remove  your  prohibition 
of — of  love-making  on  my  part,  and " 

"  No,  Chester,"  the  captain  said  in  kindly 
but  grave  accents,  as  the  young  man  halted  in 
his -speech,  "you  surely  forget  that  my  objec- 
tion was  on  account  of  my  daughter's  youth, 
and  that  she  is  only  a  few  months  older  now 
than  she  was  then.  I  do  not  want  her  to  be- 
gin to  think  of  lovers  for  several  years  yet,  and 
am  objecting  to  your  suit  for  that  reason  only. 
I  show  no  greater  favour  in  this  matter  to  any- 
one else.  And  you  may  feel  that  I  am  show- 
ing confidence  in  you  in  permitting  her  to  go 
to  to-morrow's  picnic  in  your  care." 

"  Yes,  sir;  thank  you,  sir.  I  shall  not  abuse 
your  confidence,  and,  though  I  find  it  hard  not 
to  be  permitted  to  speak  and  use  my  best  efforts 
to  win  the  prize  T  so  covet,  it  is  some  conso- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  145 

lation  that  you  treat  other  suitors  in  the  same 
way." 

"  Perhaps,  too,  that  my  daughter  is  equally 
indifferent  to  them  all,"  the  captain  remarked 
with  a  smile.  "And  by  the  way,  my  young 
friend,  don't  you  suppose  it  may  be  a  trifle  hard 
for  Lucilla's  father  to  resign  the  first  place  in 
her  heart  to  someone  else  ?  " 

"  It  is  according  to  nature,  sir,"  Chester  said, 
returning  the  smile.  ^  You  served  Cousin 
Elsie  so  when  you  stole  Cousin  Violet's  heart; 
and  Cousin  Elsie's  husband  had  taken  her  from 
her  father.  It  has  been  the  way  almost  ever 
since  the  world  began;  so  I  suppose  it  is  all 
right." 

"  Yes;  but  a  father  has  a  right  to  say  it  shall 
not  begin  too  soon  with  his  own  daughter. 
Wedlock  brings  cares  and  responsibilities  that 
should  not  be  allowed  to  fall  too  soon  upon 
young  shoulders,  and  it  is  my  desire  and  pur- 
pose to  keep  my  dear  young  daughters  free  from 
them  until  they  reach  years  of  maturity." 

"Putting  it  so,  captain,  it  does  seem  that 
you  are  acting  kindly  by  them,  though  I  must 
insist  that  it  is  hard  on  the  lovers,"  Chester 


146  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

returned  between  a  smile  and  a  sigh.  "  But  I 
think  you  may  trust  your  daughter  with  me 
to-morrow  without  much  fear  that  I  will  abuse 
your  confidence.  And  I  am  not  at  all  sure  that 
I  could  gain  anything  by  speaking.  We  are 
good  friends, — she  and  1, — but  I  doubt  if  she 
cares  a  cent  for  me  any  other  way." 

"  As  to  that,"  the  captain  said  in  kindly  tone 
and  with  his  pleasant  smile,  "  I  still  have  the 
happiness  of  believing  that,  as  yet,  her  father 
holds  the  first  place  in  her  heart.  I  cannot 
hope  that  it  will  be  so  always — perhaps  I  ought 
not  to  wish  it;  but  I  do  rejoice  in  the  firm  con- 
viction that  such  is  the  fact  at  present." 

"  No  one  can  blame  you  for  that,  sir,"  Ches- 
ter said,  rising  to  take  leave,  "  but,  ungenerous 
as  it  sounds,  I  cannot  help  hoping  that,  one  of 
these  days,  I  may  be  able  to  shift  your  posi- 
tion to  the  second  place,  taking  the  first  my- 
self. It  sounds  dreadful  selfish,  but  fathers 
have  to  give  way  to  lovers  and  husbands  if  the 
human  race  is  to  continue.  I  hope  to  be  here 
in  the  morning,  captain,  a  little  after  nine 
o'clock,  with  a  carriage,  to  take  Miss  Lu  to  the 
wharf  where  the  boat  will  be  lying.     I  promise 


tJLSIE  AT  HOME.  U1 

to  take  the  best  of  care  of  her,  to  do  and  say 
nothing  of  which  her  father  would  disapprove, 
and  to  bring  her  home  safely.  Providence  per- 
mitting, before  dark." 

"I  have  no  doubt  you  will,  Chester,  and  I 
trust  her — one  of  my  choice  treasures — to  you 
with  confidence  in  your  purpose  to  be  the  faith- 
ful guardian  of  her  safety,  and  perfectly  trust- 
worthy as  regards  the  matter  of  which  we  have 
been  speaking,"  were  the  captain's  parting 
words  to  his  young  visitor  as  he  saw  him  out  to 
the  veranda. 

"  Thank  you,  sir;  I  hope  to  prove  faithful  to 
the  trust.  Good-evening,"  Chester  returned, 
then  sped  away  down  the  drive. 

He  thought  it  best,  as  did  the  captain  also, 
that  Lucilla  should  be  left  in  ignorance  of  his 
call. 

She  came  downstairs  when  the  tea  bell  sum- 
moned the  family  to  partake  of  their  evening 
meal,  and  at  its  conclusion  all  gathered  upon 
the  front  veranda,  as  was  their  custom. 
They  had  not  been  there  very  long  when  the 
Fairview  carriage  was  seen  to  turn  in  at  the 
great  gates  and  come  swiftly  up  the  drive.     As 


i48  bLSIE  AT  HOME. 

it  drew  up  before  the  entrance  they  perceived 
with  pleasure  that  it  contained  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Leland  and  Evelyn,  Grandma  Elsie,  and  Rosie. 
A  warm  welcome  was  given  them,  all  were  com- 
fortably seated — the  young  girls  in  a  group  to- 
gether a  little  to  one  side  of  the  older  people — 
and  soon  an  animated  chat  was  being  carried  on 
by  each  party. 

"Well,  Lu,"  the  captain  presently  over- 
heard Eosie  saying,  "  I  suppose  you  are  invited 
to  to-morrow's  picnic;  I  heard  you  were  to  be 
— you  and  Gracie  both.     Are  you  going? '' 

"  I  believe  I  am,"  replied  Lucilla.  "  I  have 
had  an  invitation,  and  papa  has  given  me  per- 
mission to  accept  it;  but  he  thinks  Gracie  is  not 
strong  enough  to  go  on  such  an  excursion  with- 
out him  along  to  take  care  of  her." 

"  Yes,  I  suppose  that  is  so,"  said  Rosie.  "  I 
am  sorry,  for  I  am  going  and  I  should  like  to 
have  Gracie's  company.  Rather  than  do  with- 
out it  I  would  even  take  Brother  Levis'  too," 
she  added  with  a  laugh  and  in  a  little  louder 
tone,  turning  a  playful  look  upon  him  as  she 
spoke. 

His  quick  ear  had  caught  the  words. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  149 

"  Can  that  be  so.  Sister  Kosie/'  he  said  with 
assumed  gravity.  "  Well,  iinfortuDately,  I  can- 
not go,  as  I  have  had  no  invitation.  Also  as  I 
have  already  declined  the  invitation  for  Grace, 
she  cannot  go.  But  I  trust  she  is  not  greatly 
afflicted  by  this  state  of  affairs." 

' "  No,  indeed,  papa,"  responded  Grace  with  a 
contented  little  laugh.  "  It  is  very  far  from 
being  a  trial  to  have  to  stay  in  this  sweet  home 
with  you  and  mamma,  Elsie  and  Ned." 

"  I  hardly  supposed  you  would  have  time  and 
inclination  to  go,  Eosie,"  said  Lucilla. 

"  Oh,  yes,  indeed!  "  laughed  Rosie.  ^^  I  think 
it  advisable  to  seize  all  the  pleasures  of  single 
blessedness  while  I  can." 

"  But  married  folks  can  go  to  picnics." 

"  Yes,  so  they  can — to  some  of  them;  but  this 
is  only  for  the  unmarried,  who  have  gotten 
it  up." 

^^Did  you  have  a  hand  in  that?"  asked 
Lucilla. 

"  No;  it  was  the  work  of  our  young  gentle- 
men friends — my  brothers,  cousins,  and  some 
others." 

^^  Of  course  you  have  not  yet  heard  from 


150  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

your  friends,  the  Crolys  ?  "  Lulu  said  inquir- 
ingly- 

^^  No;  there  has  not  been  time;  unless  they 
had  telegraphed;  as,  perhaps,  they  may,  to 
Cousin  Arthur.  Speak  of  angels!  here  he 
comes! "  she  exclaimed,  a.?,  at  that  moment,  a 
gig  turned  in  at  the  great  gates  and  came  on 
rapidly  toward  the  house. 

Dr.  Arthur  Conly  was  in  it,  and,  presently, 
having  reached  the  veranda  steps,  drew  rein, 
bade  good-evening,  and  announced  to  his 
cousins  Elsie  and  Rosie  that  he  had  received  a 
telegram  from  the  Crolys  thanking  him  for  his 
invitation  and  saying  that  it  was  accepted  and 
they  might  be  expected  in  a  few  days. 

^^Ah!  that  is  good  news,  if  it  suits  you  all 
at  Roselands,"  said  Grandma  Elsie. 

'^  As  I  think  it  does,  cousin,"  returned  the 
doctor.  ^^  At  all  events  they  all  seemed 
pleased;  which  I  think  is  particularly  kind  in 
Sister  Mary  and  Cal." 

"  Yes,"  said  Rosie,  "  and  I  hope  and  believe 
the  Crolys  will  prove  so  agreeable  as  guests,  or 
boarders,  that  they  will  never  regret  it." 

"  So  do  I,"  Arthur  said;  "  also  I  think  that 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  151 

the  Crolys  will  find  us  all  so  agreeable  that  they 
will  never  regret  it." 

'*  Won't  you  alight  and  take  a  seat  among  us, 
doctor?  "  asked  the  captain  hospitably. 

^^  Thank  you;  I  should  enjoy  doing  so,  but 
duty  calls  in  another  direction,  a  sick  patient 
needing  prompt  attention.  Good-evening  to 
you  all ";  and,  turning  with  the  last  words,  he 
drove  away. 

^^  So,  Eosie,  you  are  likely  soon  to  be  able  to 
make  the  acquaintance  of  your  future  mother- 
in-law,"  said  Violet.  "  But  you  don't  seem 
alarmed  at  the  prospect." 

^^  No;  because  I  am  not.  From  all  Will  has 
told  me  I  think  she  must  be  a  lovely  and  lov- 
able woman;  as  he  thinks  his  future  mother-in- 
law  is." 

^^  And  as  all  to  whom  she  bears  that  relation 
can  testify,"  remarked  the  captain  with  an 
affectionate,  appreciative  glance  at  the  sweet 
face  of  Grandma  Elsie. 

"  I,  for  one,"  said  Mr.  Leland  heartily;  "  and 
I  feel  entirely  sure  of  Zoe,  the  only  other  one 
to  whom  she  bears  that  relationship." 

^^  You  are  all  very  kind,  very  ready  to  pass 


133  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

my  imperfections  by,"  responded  Mrs.  Travilla's 
sweet  voice.  ^'  And  if  I  am  a  good  mother,  I 
can  assure  you  that  it  is  at  least  partly  as  a 
a  consequence  of  having  good  sons  and 
daughters." 

"  May  you  always  be  able  to  say  that, 
mother,"  responded  the  captain  heartily.  "  It 
would  be  a  sorry  sort  of  man  or  woman  who 
could  be  any  other  than  a  good  son  or  daughter 
to  you." 

"Oh,  Lu!"  said  Evelyn  presently,  "didn't 
you  tell  me  you  were  going  into  the  city  to- 
morrow to  do  some  shopping?" 

"  Yes;  but  we  did  it  to-day,  in  order  that  I 
might  have  to-morrow  free  for  the  picnic.  We 
all  went  to  the  city  and  had  a  very  pleasant  and 
successful  time." 

"  Shopping  is  apt  to  be  very  fatiguing  work," 
said  Grandma  Elsie.  "  I  see  Grace  looks  w^eary. 
Dear  chiM,  if  you  feel  like  retiring,  do  not  let 
our  presence  hinder  you  for  a  moment." 

"  Thank  you.  Grandma  Elsie;  but  I  don't 
like  to  miss  a  minute  of  your  call,"  returned 
Grace,  exerting  herself  to  speak  in  a  lively 
tone. 


ELSIE  AT  MOME.  U^ 

"  Vd  like  to  tell  about  what  we  bought,"  said 
Ned,  "  but  I  suppose  I  must  not." 

"  Better  wait  till  you  have  the  articles  here  to 
show,  my  son,"  said  kis  father. 

"  Yes;  we  had  to  leave  them  to  be  marked; 
but  Aunt  Eosie  will  see  them  some  of  these 
days,"  said  the  little  fellow. 

"  And  she  is  very  willing  to  wait  till  the  right 
time  comes,"  Rosie  said,  putting  an  arm  about 
him  and  giving  him  a  kiss;  for  he  had  gone  to 
her  side. 

*^  I'm  afraid  it  will  be  a  good  while  to  wait," 
he  returned.  "  Papa  was  so  kind,  he  gave  us — 
Elsie  and  me — each  ten  dollars  to  do  what 
we  pleased  with.  Lu  and  Gracie  had  a  good 
deal  more,  'cause  they  are  older,  you  know, 
and " 

"There,  that  will  do,  Ned,"  laughed  his 
mother.  "  It  is  your  bed  time.  Say  good- 
night to  grandma  and  the  rest,  and  Elsie  and 
you  and  I  will  run  away  for  the  present." 

The  callers  did  not  stay  very  long  after  Vio- 
let's return  to  the  veranda,  and  soon  after  their 
departure  the  captain  held  his  evening  serv- 
ice and  then  advised  Lucilla  and  Grace  to  re- 


154  ELSIE  AT  SOME. 

tire  at  once,  that  the  coming  day  might  find 
them  fully  rested  and  refreshed. 

They  obeyed  with  cheerful  alacrity,  and 
arose  the  next  morning  feeling  none  the  worse 
for  the  exertion  of  the  previous  day. 

Chester  came  promptly  at  the  appointed 
hour,  found  Lucilla  ready  for  the  excursion, 
and  they  drove  away  in  fine  spirits.  Chester 
spared  no  pains  to  make  himself  agreeable  to  his 
companion,  but  was  careful  not  to  do  or  say 
anything  of  which  her  father  could  disapprove. 
He  brought  her  home  again  before  dark,  slightly 
fatigued,  but  gay  and  lively,  with  much  to  tell 
of  the  pleasant  experiences  of  the  day. 

"  Did  Eosie  go?  "  asked  Grace. 

"  Yes,  and  was  very  merry;  indeed,  so  we  all 
were.  We  were  rowing  about  and  fishing  most 
of  the  time." 

"  Both  at  once  ?  "  queried  her  father  with  an 
amused  look. 

"  No,  sir;  we  kept  still  enough  while  trying 
to  catch  the  fish,  and  we  caught  as  many  as  we 
could  eat,  then  landed,  made  a  fire, — the  young 
men  did,  I  mean, — cooked  the  fish,  made  coffee, 
and  we  had  our  dinner.     We  girls  spread  a 


ELSIE  AT  HOME,  155 

tablecloth  on  the  grass  and  got  out  the  good 
things  in  the  baskets.  They  were  in  great 
plenty,  quite  a  variety,  and  all  very  good  and 
palatable.  I  think  the  air  and  rowing  had 
given  us  all  fine  appetites  so  that  everybody  ate 
heartily  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it." 

''  And  you  were  not  sorry  you  went?  " 

"  No,  indeed!  I  am  much  obliged  to  you, 
father,  for  letting  me  go,''  she  added,  turning  to 
him  with  a  look  of  love  and  gratitude. 

"  You  are  very  welcome,  daughter,"  he  said, 
'^  and  I  am  glad  you  enjoyed  it.  There  is  an 
old  saying  that  ^  all  work  and  no  play  makes 
Jack  a  dull  boy,'  and  I  think  girl  nature  does 
not  differ  in  that  respect." 

"  Oh,  you  dear  papa!  none  of  your  children 
are  ever  allowed  to  have  all  work  and  no  play," 
she  exclaimed,  giving  him  a  look  of  ardent 
affection.  "  You  take  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
to  give  us  pleasure;  you  always  have." 

"  Yes,  indeed,"  said  Grace;  "  it  seems  to  be 
papa's  greatest  delight  to  give  pleasure  to  his 
wife  and  children.  Don't  you  thing  so, 
mamma  ?  " 

"Indeed   I   do,"   returned   Violet   heartily. 


156  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

^'1  have  never  known  a  more  generous  or  un- 
selfish person  than  my  husband  and  your 
father.'^ 

"And  v/hat  shall  I  say?'^  queried  the  cap- 
tain. ^'  That  when  I  am  the  person  under  dis- 
cussion no  greater  flatterers  can  be  found  than 
my  wife  and  older  daughters?" 

"  Oh!  we  will  excuse  you  from  saying  any- 
thing on  the  subject^  sir/'  laughed  Violet. 

"  Now,  what  kind  of  a  time  did  you  all  have 
staying  at  home  without  me?''  asked  Lucilla. 
"I  hope  you  have  missed  me  a  little." 

"  Of  course  we  did/'  replied  Grace. 

"  Your  father  missed  both  his  daughter  and 
his  amanuensis/'  said  the  captain. 

"  Oh!  there  were  letters  to  be  answered?  "  she 
exclaimed.     "  Please  let  me  do  it  now,  papa?  " 

"No,  dear  child,  I  answered  them  myself; 
and  if  I  had  not  I  should  not  let  you  work  to- 
night, after  all  the  fatigue  of  the  day." 

"  You  are  so  kindly  careful  of  me  and  all  of 
us,  papa,"  she  said  with  a  grateful,  loving  look 
into  his  eyes.  "  I  am  somewhat  tired,  but  not 
too  much  so  to  use  the  tjrpewriter,  if  you  wanted 
any  work  done  on  it.    It  is  such  a  pleasure 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  Ul 

to  be  of  even  a  little  service  to  my  dear 
father." 

"And  such  a  pleasure  to  your  father  to  be 
served  by  so  dear  and  loving  a  daughter/'  he 
returned;  "  one  so  valuable  to  me  that  I  cannot 
consent  to  have  her  broken  down  with  too  much 
of  either  work  or  pleasure.  You  must  go  to 
bed  presently  and  try  to  take  a  good  night's  rest 
after  the  exertions  of  the  day." 

"  I  am  ready  to  go  whenever  my  father  bids 
me,"  she  said  in  a  cheerful  tone;  "  and  I  want 
to  begin  my  night's  sleep  early  enough  to  be 
ready  for  my  usual  stroll  with  him  about  the 
grounds  before  breakfast." 

"  Yes;  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  to  take  that 
without  the  pleasant  company  of  my  early  bird 
of  a  daughter/'  he  said.  "I  should  miss  her 
sadly." 

Lucilla's  eyes  shone.  "  Thank  you,  p'apa!  it 
is  very  nice  in  you  to  say  that/'  she  said,  "  and 
I  dearly  love  those  early  walks  with  you." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

In  less  than  a  week  after  the  Crolys  had  sig- 
nified their  intention  of  accepting  the  invita- 
tion to  Eoselands  the  news  of  their  safe  arrival 
was  communicated  to  the  family  at  Ion,  and  as 
soon  as  the  doctor  thought  Mrs.  Croly  suffi- 
ciently rested  to  see  visitors.  Grandma  Elsie  and 
Kosie  called  upon  them  there. 

They  were  mutually  pleased — Mrs  Croly  de- 
lighted with  the  prospect  of  having  so  charming 
a  daughter  as  Eosie. 

And  now  preparations  for  the  wedding  went 
on  rapidly,  the  bride-elect,  and  those  who  were 
to  he  her  attendants,  being  particularly  inter- 
ested in  regard  to  their  attire  for  the  great  oc- 
casion, and  keeping  the  dressmakers  very  busy 
in  fashioning  their  finery. 

Then,  as  the  time  drew  near,  relatives  and 
friends  from  a  distance  began  to  arrive. 

To  the  great  joy  of  Mrs.  Calhoun  Conly  her 

158 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  159 

parents  were  among  the  firsts  and  their  and  her 
near  relatives  from  Indiana  and  Louisiana  soon 
followed;  their  coming  giving  great  pleasure 
to  both  her  aunt  Annis  and  herself,  as  well  as 
to  the  Ion  family.  Mrs  Betty  Norris  and  her 
brother  Dr.  Robert  Johnson,  their  half  brother 
Dr.  Dick  Percival,  and  his  sister  Mrs.  Molly  Em- 
bury of  Magnolia  Hall,  with  her  husband,  were 
among  the  later  arrivals,  and  about  the  same 
time  came  Captain  Donald  Keith,  having  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a  furlough  for  several 
weeks. 

He,  Dr.  Percival,  and  several  others  of  the 
family  relatives  were  at  first  domiciled  at  Wood- 
burn,  where  they  were  made  very  welcome  and 
most  hospitably  entertained.  Donald's  was  the 
first  anival,  though  only  a  day  or  so  in  advance 
of  the  others.  He  and  Captain  Raymond  met 
with  all  the  old  cordiality,  evidently  glad  to  re- 
new the  comradeship  of  earlier  days,  while 
Violet's  greeting  was  warm  and  cousinly,  and 
that  of  the  young  girls  such  as  they  might  be 
reasonably  expected  to  bestow  upon  a  valued 
friend  and  relative  of  the  family. 

Donald,  hardly  realising  how  many  months 


160  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

and  years  had  rolled  by  since  his  last  sight  of 
them,  was  surprised  at  their  growth  in  height 
and  beauty,  and  did  not  wonder  at  their  father's 
evident  pride  and  delight  in  claiming  them  as 
his  own. 

But  for  the  few  days  between  his  coming 
among  them  and  the  wedding  there  was  little 
opportunity  for  becoming  intimately  ac- 
quainted, so  greatly  interested  and  occupied 
with  the  preparations  for  it  were  they,  and,  in- 
deed, all  the  family  connection.  He  furtively 
watched  them,  however,  while  Captain  Ray- 
mond, calling  to  mind  a  talk  he  had  had  with 
Donald  at  West  Point,  some  years  before,  in  re- 
gard to  his  eldest  daughter,  did  the  same  by 
him  whenever  the  two  were  together  in  his 
presence.  He  noted  with  pleasure  that  Lu- 
cilla  evidently  cared  for  Captain  Keith  only  as 
a  relative  and  friend  of  the  family,  never  think- 
ing of  him  as  a  lover  or  admirer  of  herself,  or 
likely  to  become  one. 

"  She  is  still  satisfied  with  her  father's  affec- 
tion," was  his  pleasing  thought.  "  She  evi- 
dently cares  little  or  nothing  for  other  men,  and 
I  may  hope  to  keep  her  altogether  my  own  for 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  161 

years  to  come;  though  there  are  some  half  dozen 
or  more  young  fellows  who,  as  I  plainly  per- 
ceive, are  looking  upon  her  with  longing  eyes." 

That  fact  was  evident  to  Violet,  also,  and  she 
jestingly  referred  to  it  at  one  time  when,  for  a 
few  moments,  they  were  alone  together. 

''  My  dear,"  she  said,  "  be  watchful  if  you 
would  not  be  robbed  of  Lu,  perhaps  of  Gracie, 
also;  for  the  dear  girls  are  entirely  too  charming 
for  you  to  hope  to  escape  an  effort  from  some- 
body to  take  them  from  you." 

'^  I  agree  with  you  in  that  idea,  but  am  not 
alarmed,"  he  said  with  a  look  of  quiet  confi- 
dence, "  believing  that  my  daughters  still  love 
their  father  better  than  any  other  man,  and  are 
satisfied  that  he  seeks  their  best  good  in  refusing 
to  consider  them  as  yet  old  enough  to  leave  his 
care  and  protection  for  that  of  anyone  else." 

^'  I  am  sure  you  are  right,"  returned  Violet, 
"  and  very  glad  I  am  to  think  I  shall  not  lose 
their  sweet  companionship  for  years,  if  ever. 
I  feel,  though,  that  it  would  be  very  selfish  in 
me  to  want  them  to  miss  entirely  the  great  hap- 
piness I  have  found  in  wedded  life,"  she  added 
with  a  look  of  ardent  affection  into  his  eyes. 


162  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  But  1  fear  there  are  not  many  husbands  equal 
to  mine." 

"  I  hope  there  are/'  he  said  with  a  smile  that 
was  very  loving  and  tender,  ^'  and  I  am  sure  it 
could  not  fail  to  be  the  case  if  there  were  many 
wives  as  worthy  of  love  and  entire  devotion  as 
is  mine." 

"  Thank  you,"  she  said  with  a  pleased  smile. 
"  I  cannot  tell  3'ou  how  often  I  rejoice  in  the 
thought  of  my  husband's  blindness  to  my  many 
faults." 

"  If  there  is  any  such  blindness,  my  dear,  I 
am  quite  sure  it  is  mutual,"  he  returned  with  a 
look  of  amusement,  adding,  "  and  we  will  try  to 
keep  it  up;  won't  we?  " 

"Yes,  indeed,"  was  her  laughing  rejoinder, 
"  and  I  hope  Eosie  and  her  Will  may  be 
led  to  follow  our  good  example  in  that  respect." 

"  As  I  do,"  he  rejoined;  "  and,  knowing  them 
both  as  I  do  know  them,  I  think  there  is  every 
prospect  of  it." 

This  talk  was  upon  a  side  veranda  where  they 
sat  watching  their  two  little  ones  at  play  to- 
gether in  the  grounds. 

"  Papa! "  cried  Ned  at  this  moment,  run- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  163 

ning  toward  them,  "  didn't  you  hear  the  tele- 
phone bell?     I  thought  I  did." 

"  No,  my  son/'  returned  the  captain;  "  and 
if  it  is  ringing,  one  of  your  sisters  will  answer  it, 
no  doubt.     They  are  both  upstairs." 

"  It  did  ring,  papa,  and  I  answered  it,"  said 
Lucilla,  stepping  from  the  open  doorway  and 
coming  swiftly  toward  him.  "  Rosie  was  call- 
ing to  me  that  there  is  to  be  a  rehearsal  of  to- 
morrow's wedding  ceremony,  this  evening,  and 
asking  if  we  can  come  over  and  take  our  parts. 
May  w^e?     Will  you  take  us?" 

"  I  say  yes  to  both  queries,"  was  the  pleasant- 
toned  reply.  "  I  will  order  out  the  carriage 
and  we  will  all  drive  over  directly  after  tea.  I 
have  been  told  that  our  gentlemen  guests  are 
all  to  spend  the  evening  there  or  at  Beechwood 
or  Roselands." 

"  Oh,  I  hke  that!  "  exclaimed  Lucilla.  "And 
now,  our  wedding  dresses  being  entirely  fin- 
ished, Grace  and  I  are  going  to  try  them  on. 
Will  our  father,  Mamma  Vi,  Elsie,  and  Ned 
come  up  presently  and  see  what  they  think  of 
our  appearance  in  them?  " 

"  Of  course  we  will,"  answered  Violet.     "  I 


164  ELSIE  AT  HOME, 

can  speak  for  myself  and  the  children,  and  have 
not  a  doubt  of  Captain  Raymond^s  desire  to  see 
how  well  the  dainty  gowns  become  his  young- 
lady  daughters." 

"  He  hardly  considers  them  young  ladies  yet. 
Mamma  Vi,"  laughed  Lulu.  "  And  I  am  sure 
I  don't  want  him  to,  for  I  dearly  love  to  have 
him  call  me  his  own  little  girl,"  she  concluded, 
with  a  look  of  ardent  filial  love  and  respect  into 
her  father's  eyes.  "  I  hope  he  will  let  me  al- 
ways be  that  to  him." 

"  Always,  while  you  wish  it,  daughter  mine/' 
he  responded  in  low,  tender  tones,  affection- 
ately pressing  the  hand  she  had  laid  in  his. 
"  Now  go,  array  yourself  in  your  finery,  and  we 
will  follow  in  a  few  moments,"  he  added  in  a 
little  louder  key,  and  she  hastened  to  obey. 

'^  Oh,  mamma! "  cried  Elsie,  who  had  drawn 
near  enough  to  overhear  nearly  all  that  had 
been  said,  "  mayn't  I  try  my  wedding  dress  on, 
too?  You  know  it  is  almost  finished — all  but 
sewing  on  a  few  buttons,  Alma  said  a  while 
ago." 

"I  have  no  objection,"  said  Violet,  rising. 
"  Come,  and  I  will  help  you  put  it  on." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  165 

"  Your  wedding  dress,  Elsie  ?  you  are  not  old 
enoiigh  to  get  married/'  laughed  Ned.  "  Is 
she,  papa? '' 

'^No,  indeed!  very  far  from  it,"  the  captain 
said.  "  Even  her  older  sisters  are  much  too 
young  for  that;  but  they  seem  to  so  have  named 
their  new  gowns  because  of  having  had  them 
made  expressly  to  be  worn  at  the  wedding." 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  suppose  that  is  what  they  mean. 
Aunt  Eosie's  will  be  the  only  real  wedding 
dress,  and  I  heard  mamma  say  it  was  very  hand- 
some indeed.  And  I  like  my  new  suit  you 
bought  me  to  wear  to  the  wedding;  and  your 
new  one,  too." 

^'  I  am  glad  you  are  satisfied,"  his  father 
said.  "  The  dress  of  the  ladies  will  be  noticed 
much  more  than  yours  or  mine,  but  it  is  only 
right  that  men  and  boys  should  take  pains  to 
be  neatly  and  suitably  attired.  Now  I  think 
we  may  follow  your  mother  and  sisters  and  see 
what  they  have  to  show  us." 

The  dresses  were  pronounced  by  all  beauti- 
ful, perfect  in  regard  to  fit,  trimming,  and  suit- 
ability to  the  occasion  on  which  they  were  to  be 
worn;  very  becoming,  also,  the  captain  remarked 


166  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

in  an  aside  to  his  wife;  a  remark  to  which  she 
gave  a  hearty  and  unqualified  assent. 

"We'll  wear  these  dresses  to  Ion  to-night, 
won't  we,  mamma?  "  asked  Elsie. 

"  Oh,  no,  child! ''  replied  Violet;  "  the  re- 
hearsal will  be  gone  through  y\'ith  in  ordinary 
attire,  and  these  grand  dresses  kept  perfectly 
fresh  for  the  wedding.  Come,  now,  we  must 
make  haste  with  the  change,  for  the  tea  bell 
will  ring  presently.  It  is  well  you  took  a  good 
nap  this  afternoon,  for  I  fear  you  are  likely  to 
be  kept  up  late." 

"Probably  a  little  later  than  usual,"  said 
their  father,  "  though,  as  to-morrow  is  to  be  so 
exciting  a  day,  I  intend  to  bring  you  all  home 
in  pretty  good  season;  that  you  may  be  able  to 
take  such  a  night's  rest  as  will  give  you  the 
needed  strength  to  go  through  the  trying 
ordeal." 

"  There,  papa,"  laughed  Grace,  "  you  talk 
as  if  we  were  all  going  to  be  married." 

"  Dear  me,  but  I  am  glad  we  are  not! "  ex- 
claimed Lucilla,  "  and  that  I  am  not  the  one 
that  is.'^ 

"  Quite  a  lucid  remark,  my  child,"  laughed 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  167 

her  father.  "  But  now  I  will  leave  you  to  make 
the  necessary  changes  in  your  dress  that  you 
may  be  ready  for  a  drive  on  leaving  the  tea 
table/' 

They  hastened  to  obey,  helping  each  other 
and  laugliing  and  chatting  merrily  as  they 
worked.  They  were  ready  when  the  summons 
to  the  tea  table  came,  and,  directly  after  leav- 
ing it,  all  entered  the  family  carriage  and  drove 
to  Ion,  greatly  enjoying  the  balmy  air,  the 
easy  motion  over  the  smooth  roads,  and  all 
the  sweet  sights  and  sounds  of  lovely  summer 
time  in  the  country.  They  never  wearied  of 
those  familiar  things,  daily  blessings  though 
they  were. 

The  sun  w^as  near  its  setting  when  they 
reached  Ion,  where  they  found  a  gathering  of 
friends  and  relatives  unusual  in  its  size,  though 
not  nearly  so  large  as  it  would  be  on  the  com- 
ing day,  when  the  great  event  was  to  take 
place. 

Walter  was  one  of  the  first  to  greet  them, 
having  reached  home  that  morning  and  been 
ever  since  much  excited  over  the  situation  of 
affairs — the  prospect  of  losing  Rosie,  his  young- 


168  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

est  and  only  single  sister  out  of  the  home  nest, 
as  a  permanent  resident  there. 

''  Glad  to  see  you,  Vi!  "  he  exclaimed,  seizing 
his  sister,  Mrs.  Raymond,  in  a  warm  emhrace. 
"  Glad  to  see  you  all — Brother  Levis,  Lu, 
Gracie,  and  you  little  folks.  Of  course  you 
haven't  forgotten  Uncle  AValter  in  the  long 
months  since  we  parted  in  Paradise  Valley?" 

"  No,  indeed! "  answered  several  voices. 

"  And  we  are  all  very  glad  to  see  you  at  home 
among  us  again — I  must  not  say  little  brother, 
according  to  former  custom,  I  suppose  ?  "  added 
Violet  in  merry  accents;  "  for  you  have  grown 
into  a  fine  young  gentleman." 

*'  Thank  you,"  he  returned  with  a  slightly 
embarrassed  laugh.  ^^Well,  I  mean  to  try  to 
be,  as  well  as  to  seem." 

But  others  were  crowding  about,  and  in  the 
exchange  of  greetings,  questions,  and  answers, 
there  were  time  and  opportunity  for  no  more. 

There  was  a  pleasant  bustle,  a  good  deal  of 
mirth  and  laughter,  the  young  folks  going  about 
from  room  to  room  to  examine  the  tasteful 
arrangements  for  the  grand  affair  of  the  mor- 
row— then,  the  last  one  of  those  selected  to  take 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  169 

part  in  the  ceremony  having  arrived,  they  went 
through  their  rehear&al;  so  that  even  the  little 
flower  girls  might  be  perfect  in  their  parts, 
knowing  just  how  and  when  to  enter  the  room, 
where  to  stand  and  what  to  do. 

They  were  greatly  interested  and  very  anx- 
ious to  do  all  in  the  best  possible  manner,  that 
no  one  might  be  mortified  by  their  failure  and 
led  to  regret  that  they  had  been  chosen  to  per- 
form that  particular  part.  They  succeeded 
admirably,  and  were  delighted  with  the  praise 
freely  bestowed  upon  them  by  one  and  another 
of  the  onlookers,  including  the  guests  and  the 
members  of  the  different  families  present. 

When  all  seemed  perfect  in  their  parts,  which 
no  one  found  very  difficult,  some  simple  refresh- 
ments were  served,  and  presently  after  Captain 
Eaymond  and  his  family  departed  for  Wood- 
burn,  Captain  Donald  Keith  and  Dr.  Dick 
Percival  accompanying  them. 

It  was  something  of  a  disappointment  to 
both  these  gentlemen  that,  very  shortly  after 
arriving  there.  Captain  Raymond  advised  his 
daughters  to  retire,  in  order  that  they  might 
feel  entirely  rested  and  refreshed  before  enter- 


170  tlLSIE  AT  HOMJS. 

ing  upon  the  exciting  pleasures  and  fatigues  of 
the  coming  day. 

"  I  know  it  is  the  best  plan  for  me,  papa/'  re- 
turned Grace  in  cheerful  tones,  and  began  her 
good-nights  at  once. 

"  For  me  too,  since  I  want  all  the  beauty 
sleep  I  can  get  in  preparation  for  to-morrow," 
laughed  Lucilla,  "  though  of  course  it  is  by  no 
means  so  necessary  for  the  bride's  attendants 
as  for  herself.'' 

"  Ah !  is  that  because  they  are  so  much  hand- 
somer to  begin  with?" 

"  Oh,  papa!  please  refrain  from  asking  such 
hard  questions!"  was  the  response  in  tones  of 
mock  entreaty;  "  hard  because  they  seem  to  im- 
ply a  good  deal  of  vanity  in  me.  I  was  only 
meaning  that,  of  course,  the  bride's  appearance 
will  attract  the  most  attention." 

"Ah!  was  that  it?  Well,  my  child,  say 
good-night  and  go;  get  to  bed  quickly,  put 
aside  thoughts  of  to-morrow's  gaieties,  and  in- 
dulge in  sleep  so  sound  and  refreshing  that  you 
will  be  ready  to  give  your  father  his  usual  com- 
panionship in  his  early  stroll  about  the 
grounds." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  iVl 

"  I'll  do  my  best  to  follow  all  those  directions, 
sir/'  she  said  with  a  bright,  pleased  look. 
''  Good-night,  gentlemen,"  turning  toward  the 
guests.  "  I  hope  you  will  both  sleep  well  and 
find  to-morrow's  festivities  very  enjoyable." 
And  with  that  she  hastened  away,  leaving  the 
three  gentlennen  alone  upon  the  veranda,  for 
Violet  was  seeing  her  little  ones  to  bed. 

"What  a  rich  man  you  are,  Kaymond! " 
remarked  Keith,  half  unconsciously  sighing 
slightly  as  he  spoke. 

"You  are  right,"  returned  the  captain 
cheerily,  "my  wife  and  children  being  by  far 
the  most  valuable  of  my  possessions.  I  only 
wish  that  you  and  your  friend  here,"  glancing 
at  Dr.  Percival  as  he  spoke,  "  were  equally 
wealthy.  But  you  are  younger  men,  and  may 
hope  to  become  as  rich  as  I  am  by  the  time  you 
are  my  age." 

"  Hardly;  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  at  least," 
returned  Keith  drily;  "seeing  I  am  already 
some  ten  or  a  dozen  years  older  than  you  were 
at  the  time  of  your  first  marriage,  Raymond." 

"  Yet  by  no  means  too  old  to  hope  yet  to  be- 
come in  the  near  future  a  happy  husband  and 


172  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

father.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  understand  why  you 
have  not  found  a  mate  before  this." 

"  Ah,  none  so  blind  as  those  that  won't  see!  " 
returned  Keith  with  a  slight  laugh;  then 
changed  the  subject  of  conversation  by  asking 
a  question  in  regard  to  the  plans  of  the  young 
couple  expecting  to  be  united  on  the  morrow. 

Captain  Raymond  answered  the  query.  A 
moment's  silence  followed;  then  Keith,  turning 
to  Dick,  said:  "I  presume  you  and  I  are  of 
about  the  same  age,  doctor?  " 

"  Quite  likely;  and  confirmed  bachelors,  both 
of  us,  it  would  seem,"  was  the  nonchalant  re- 
joinder, "  I  am  some  years  older  than  Cousin 
Vi." 

"  Not  too  old  for  reformation,  however,"  re- 
marked Captain  Raymond  pleasantly.  "And 
let  me  assure  you  that  a  wife — such  as  mine,  for 
instance — is  a  very  great  blessing;  doubhng  the 
happiness  of  life." 

"  I  don't  doubt  it,  sir,"  said  Dick;  "  but  such 
an  one  is  not  to  be  picked  up  every  day." 

"  No,  certainly  not.  I  have  always  felt  my- 
self strangely  fortunate  in  securing  so  great  a 
treasure." 


BL8IE  AT  HOME.  173 

"As  you  well  may,"  remarked  Keith  pleas- 
antly; "  yet  your  good  fortune  has  been  largely 
owing  to  your  undoubted  worthiness  of  it, 
Raymond." 

"  In  which  opinion  I  agree  with  you  heartily, 
Cousin  Donald,"  responded  Violet's  sweet  voice 
close  at  hand,  taking  them  by  surprise,  for,  in 
the  earnestness  of  their  talk  they  had  not  per- 
ceived the  sound  of  her  light  approaching  foot- 
steps. "  I  think  there  is  nothing  good  which 
is  beyond  my  husband's  deserts,"  she  added  as 
all  three  rose  hastily  to  hand  her  to  a  seat,  Don- 
ald saying: 

"  So  you  overheard  me,  Coz!  Well,  please 
remember  that  it  was  I  who  brought  you 
two  together.  An  act  which  seems  to  have 
born  abundance  of  good  fruit  in  the  happiness 
of  all  concerned." 

"  I  think  it  has,"  she  said,  her  husband  ad- 
ding, "And  for  which  I,  at  least,  owe  you  a 
deep  debt  of  gratitude." 

"  And  not  you  alone,  my  dear,"  said  Violet; 
"  and  in  return  I  can  wish  him  nothing  better 
than  wedded  happiness  equal  to  our  own." 

"  A  wish  in  which  I  heartily  unite  with  you," 
said  Captain  Raymond. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

'  Captain  Raymond  and  his  eldest  daughter 
were  out  in  the  Woodburn  grounds  the  next 
morning  at  their  usual  early  hour^  wandering 
here  and  there  along  the  shaded  paths  and 
among  the  shrubs  and  flowers,  noting  their 
growth  in  size  and  beauty,  gathering  blossoms, 
and  chatting  together  in  their  usual  familiar 
and  affectionate  manner;  Lucilla  expressing  her 
thoughts  and  feelings  as  freely  and  openly  as 
though  her  companion  had  been  one  of  her 
own  age  and  sex. 

"  I  am  glad  for  Rosie/'  she  said  when  the  talk 
turned  upon  the  subject  of  what  was  expected  to 
be  the  great  event  of  the  day,  "  she  seems  so 
happy;  though  how  she  can  be  in  the  prospect 
of  leaving  the  dear  home  of  her  childhood  and 
the  mother  who  loves  her  so  fondly,  I  cannot 
understand.  Oh,  father!  I  do  think  I  can 
never,  never  bear  to  go  away  from  you!  It 
seems  impossible  that  anyone  else  can  ever  be 

174 


t!L8IE  AT  HOME.  175 

half  so  dear  to  me,  and  I  am  so  glad  that  you 
want  to  keep  me  your  own  little  girl  for  years 
longer.'^ 

"  For  all  our  life  on  earth,  daughter,  if  you 
are  satisfied  to  have  it  so,"  he  returned,  be- 
stowing upon  her  a  look  and  smile  of  tenderest 
fatherly  affection.  "  You  are  still  one  of  my 
chief  treasures,  which  I  should  be  very  loath  to 
bestow  upon  anyone  else;  dearer  to  me — as  all 
my  children  are — than  tongue  can  tell." 

"  Yes,  papa,"  she  said,  looking  up  into  his 
eyes  with  a  joyous  smile,  "  so  you  have  told  me 
many,  many  times;  but  I  love  to  hear  it  just  as 
if  you  had  never  said  it  before." 

"  As  I  do  your  expressions  of  ardent  love  for 
me,  daughter,^'  he  returned.  "  Very  glad  I  am 
that  I  am  not  the  one  who  must  to-day  resign 
to  another  the  ownership  of  a  daughter." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  Grandma  Elsie,"  said  Lu- 
cilla;  "  but  then  I  suppose  she  must  feel  rather 
used  to  it — having  given  away  two  daughters 
before." 

"And  having  none  left  to  be  a  care  and 
trouble,  eh?"  laughed  her  father. 

"  No,  sir;  having  both  near  enough  to  be  seen 


176  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

and  enjoyed  every  day  if  she  chooses.  Don't 
you  hope  that  will  be  the  way  with  you  if  you 
have  to  give  any  of  yours  up  to  somebody 
else?'' 

"  I  certainly  do/'  he  said.  "  I  should  be  very 
loath  to  consent  to  having  any  one  of  them  car- 
ried off  to  a  distance.  But  let  us  not  trouble 
ourselves  with  anxious  thought  of  what  may  lie 
in  the  future.  Remember  the  dear  Master's 
word,  ^Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil 
thereof.' " 

"  Yes,  papa;  and  I  remember  your  teaching 
me  that  his  ^  Take  no  thought/  means  no  anx- 
iety, and  that  it  tends  greatly  to  one's  happi- 
ness to  live  one  day  at  a  time,  just  leaving  all 
the  future  in  his  hands." 

"  Yes,  daughter;  just  as  a  little  child  leaves 
its  future  and  the  supply  of  its  daily  wants  in 
the  care  of  its  parents." 

"  Such  kind  teaching,  and  easy  to  under- 
stand when  one  has  such  a  father  as  mine/'  she 
said,  with  a  look  of  grateful  love. 

^^I  am  thankful,  indeed,  daughter,  if  any- 
thing in  my  treatment  and  teaching  helps  you 
to  a  clearer  understanding  of  how  the  Master 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  HI 

would  have  you  to  act  and  feel/'  he  said  in 
tones  that  spoke  full  appreciation  of  her  filial 
affection. 

"  Ah!  there  is  our  mail/'  he  added,  as  a  serv- 
ant was  seen  carrying  it  toward  the  house;  "  so 
we  will  go  in  now  and  see  if  it  contains  any- 
thing important  for  you  or  me." 

^^And  if  there  is  anything  you  want  an- 
swered on  the  typewriter  you  will  let  me  do  it 
at  once,  won't  you,  papa?"  she  asked,  as  they 
quickened  their  footsteps,  taking  the  direction 
toward  the  house. 

"  If  you  have  time,  and  wish  to  do  so, 
daughter." 

"  Yes,  sir;  I  have  hardly  anything  to  do  till 
it  is  time  for  the  drive  to  Ion." 

"Unless  you  should  find  a  letter,  or  more 
than  one,  of  your  own,  calling  for  a  reply/'  he 
returned,  smiling  down  into  her  bright,  ani- 
mated face. 

"  That  is  not  very  likely,  considering  how  few 
correspondents  I  have,"  she  laughed. 

They  reached  the  veranda  from  one  direction 
as  the  servant  entered  it  from  another,  and  the 
captain,  taking  the  mail  bag  from  him,  walked 


178  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

on  into  the  library,  Lucilla  following.  He 
emptied  the  contents  of  the  bag  upon  the  table, 
and  going  rapidly  over  them,  said:  "  Several 
letters  for  our  guests  "  (laying  them  aside  as  he 
spoke),  "  one  for  your  mamma;  none  for  any  of 
my  children,  and  only  two  business  letters  for 
me.  Well,  daughter,"  glancing  at  the  clock  on 
the  mantel,  "you  may  sit  down  to  your  type- 
writer and  answer  these  at  my  dictation;  as  I 
see  there  will  be  time  to  do  so  before  the  ring- 
ing of  the  breakfast  bell.  Ah,  good-morning, 
Keith! "  as  at  that  moment  that  gentleman 
entered  the  room.  "  Here  are  letters  which  I 
was  just  about  to  send  up  to  you." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Keith,  taking  them  from 
his  host's  outstretched  hand.  "  I  am  glad  to 
have  saved  you  the  trouble.  I  hope  you  and 
Miss  Lucilla  are  both  quite  well  ?  "  giving  her 
a  bow  and  smile  as  he  spoke. 

"Entirely,  thank  you,  and  have  just  come 
in  from  our  usual  early  stroll  together  about 
the  grounds.  I  hope  you  rested  well.  Take 
that  easy-chair  and  don't  let  our  presence  in- 
terfere with  your  enjoyment  of  your  letters." 

Keith  declined  that  invitation,  saying  he  felt 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  170 

a  strong  inclination  for  a  breath  of  the  sweet 
morning  air  before  the  summons  to  the  break- 
fast table  should  come;  so  would  read  his  let- 
ters upon  the  veranda,  and,  with  them  in  his 
hand,  passed  out  of  the  room. 

"  I  strongly  suspect  that  was  from  a 
polite  disinclination  to  hinder  us  in  our  work, 
papa,"  remarked  Lucilla  in  a  sprightly  tone, 
as  her  father  uncovered  the  machine  and  made 
all  things  ready  for  her  work. 

"  Quite  likely,''  he  responded,  "  for  I  never 
met  anyone  more  truly  polite  and  thoughtful 
for  others.  He  is  a  Christian  man  and  acts 
from  Christian  principles  in  all  that  he 
does." 

''  As  his  friend,  my  father,  does,"  she  said 
with  a  look  of  filial  reverence  up  into  his  face 
as  he  stood  by  her  side. 

"  And  as  I  trust  my  daughter  does  and  will 
ever  do,"  he  returned  with  grave  earnestness, 
then  began  his  dictation. 

They  made  rapid  work  and  had  finished  and 
joined  Keith  upon  the  veranda  before  the  ring- 
ing of  the  breakfast  bell  summoned  all  to  their 
morning  meal. 


180  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

*^Eosie  has  an  ideal  wedding  da}^,  I  think/' 
remarked  Violet  as  she  poured  the  coffee;  "  that 
shower  in  the  night  having  laid  the  dust  in  the 
roads  and  made  the  air  deliciously  cool/^ 

"  Also  refreshed  vegetation/'  added  her  hus- 
band, "  so  that  trees  and  shrubs  and  flowers  are 
as  fresh  and  fragrant  as  possible." 

"  The  sun  shines  brightly,  too/'  added 
Grace,  "reminding  one  of  the  old  saying  I 
have  so  often  heard  quoted:  '^  Happy  is  the 
bride  on  whom  the  sun  shines.'  " 

"  It  is  pleasant  to  see  it  sliining,  yet  I  do  not 
believe  Eosie  would  hesitate  a  moment,  or  feel 
the  least  anxiety  about  its  effect  upon  her 
future  happiness,  if  the  rain  were  pouring 
down,"  said  Lucilla;  "because  she  has  great  con- 
fidence in  her  bridegroom  that  is  to  be,  and  not 
a  particle  of  superstition  in  her  nature." 

"  That  is  giving  her  high  praise/'  said  Keith, 
"  for  there  are  few  who  are  entirely  free  from 
it,  though  very  many  are  hardly  aware  of  its 
hold  upon  them." 

"You  are  quite  con-ect,  I  think,  sir,"  re- 
marked Dr.  Percival;  "  we  are  all  apt  to  be 
blind  to  our  own  feelings,  and  hardly  conscious 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  181 

that  our  prejudices  and  superstitions  are  such, 
blind  to  our  weakness — even  more  to  the  men- 
tal than  to  the  physical." 

"  Then  how  well  it  is  that  there  is  no  occasion 
for  their  exercise,  or  for  battling  with  them 
to-day,"  observed  Violet  in  a  sprightly  tone; 
"  and  though,  of  course,  mamma  and  all  of  us 
must,  when  Rosie  is  gone,  miss  our  constant 
sweet  companionship  with  her,  we  ought  not  to 
mourn,  but  rather  rejoice  that  she  is  going  into 
a  Christian  family  and  gaining  a  devoted  Chris- 
tian for  a  life  companion." 

"Yes;  that  is  indeed  a  cause  for  joy  and 
gratitude,"  said  Keith. 

"  Father,  will  Mr.  Croly  be  any  relation  to  us 
after  he  gets  married  to  Aunt  Rosie?  "  queried 
Ned. 

"  Yes,  my  son;  brother  to  your  mamma  and 
me,  and  imcle  to  the  rest  of  you." 

"  Meaning  Neddie  himself  and  Elsie,  papa?  " 
Grace  said  half  interrogatively  and  with  an 
amused  little  laugh. 

"Ah,  yes!  he  is  certainly  too  young  to  be, 
or  wish  to  be,  that  to  my  older  daughters,"  re- 
turned her  father  with  a  look  of  amusement. 


182  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  No  danger  that  he  will  want  to  claim  that 
relationship,  Gracie/'  laughed  Lucilla.  "  Even 
Walter  does  not,  though  I  know  you  are  a 
particular  favourite  with  him;  but  he,  to 
be  sure,  is  still  younger  than  Mr.  Croly  by  some 
years." 

"  It  is  at  two  o'clock  Aunt  Eosie  is  to  be 
married,  then  there  will  be  the  wedding  feast, 
and  after  that  the  bride  and  groom  will  go  on 
a  journey,"  said  Neddie,  as  if  bestowing  a  piece 
of  valuable  information  upon  his  hearers. 

"  Yes,"  said  Elsie,  "  but,  as  everybody  knows 
it,  what's  the  use  of  telling  it?  " 

"  I  thought  perhaps  Cousin  Donald  and 
Cousin  Dick  didn't  know  it — at  least,  not  all 
of  it,"  said  Ned. 

Then  his  father  told  him  he  had  talked  quite 
enough,  and  must  be  quiet  during  the  rest  of 
the  meal. 

"  We  who  are  to  be  the  bride's  attendants 
should  go  over  early,  I  think,"  remarked  Lu- 
cilla. "  At  least  we,  the  older  ones,"  she 
added  with  a  smiling  glance  at  Elsie;  "  the  lit- 
tle flower  girls  will  not  be  needed  until  some- 
what later." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  183 

"You  may  set  your  own  time,"  her  father 
said.  "  I  will  send  you  and  Grace  over  in  the 
family  carriage,  and  it  can  return  in  full  sea- 
son for  the  use  of  anyone  else  who  desires  it. 
We  have  a  variety  of  horses  and  conveyances, 
gentlemen,  any  or  all  of  them  at  your  service 
at  whatever  hour  you  may  appoint,"  he  added, 
turning  to  his  guests.  "  There  will  be  abun- 
dance of  time  for  a  ride  or  drive  for  mere  ex- 
ercise or  enjoyment,  before  donning  your  attire 
for  the  grand  occasion,  if  you  wish  to  take  it." 

Both  gentlemen  accepted  the  offer  with 
thanks,  and  they  proceeded  to  lay  their  plans 
for  a  gallop  together  over  some  of  the  roads 
with  which  Dick  had  been  familiar  in  his  child- 
hood, but  which  would  be  new  to  Captain 
Keith.  They  set  out  within  an  hour  after 
leaving  the  breakfast  table,  and  not  very  long 
afterward  the  young  girls  were  on  their  way 
to  Ion. 

They  found  the  house  beautifully  decorated 
with  flowers  from  garden  and  conservatories, 
especially  the  room  in  which  the  ceremony  was 
to  take  place. 

Ji^verybody  seemed  in  a  state  of  subdued  ex- 


184  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

citement,  Eosie  half  gay,  half  sad,  her  eyes  fill- 
ing whenever  she  turned  them  upon  her 
mother — the  dear  mother  who  had  so  loved  and 
cherished  her  all  the  days  of  her  life  with  such 
unselfish  devotion  as  no  other  earthly  creature 
could  know;  how  could  she  endure  the  thought 
of  the  impending  separation?  She  could  not; 
she  could  only  strive  to  forget  it,  and  keep  her 
mind  filled  with  the  important  step  now  just 
ahout  to  be  taken,  for  she  had  already  gone  too 
far  to  retreat  even  were  she  sure  that  she  wished 
to  do  so.  The  mother  was  scarcely  less 
affected,  but  with  her  greater  experience  of  life 
was  better  able  to  control  and  conceal  her  feel- 
ings. And  so  were  the  others  who,  though 
pleased  with  the  match,  still  felt  that  this  was 
the  breaking  up  of  some  very  tender  ties;  they 
would  not  allow  their  thoughts  to  dwell  upon 
that,  but  would  occupy  them  with  the  mirth 
and  gaiety  of  the  present. 

But  to  Mrs.  Croly,  who  had  so  far  recovered 
under  Dr.  Conly's  skilful  treatment  that  she 
was  able  to  be  present,  it  was  all  joy:  she  had 
always  wanted  a  daughter,  and  now  was 
gaining  one   after  her  own  heart;  for  Kosie 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  185 

seemed  to  her  all  that  was  good,  beautiful,  and 
in  every  way  attractive.  And  then  in  respect 
to  family,  fortune,  everything  that  could  be 
thought  of,  she  was  all  that  could  be  desired. 
The  elder  Mr.  Croly,  too,  was  entirely  satis- 
fied with  the  match,  and  already  felt  a  paternal 
interest  in  the  young  girl  just  entering  his 
family.  In  fact  upon  both  sides  there  was  per- 
fect satisfaction  with  the  match. 

Everything  went  well;  there  was  no  bustle  or 
confusion;  minister  and  guests  were  all  there 
in  due  season;  bride,  groom,  and  attendants,  in- 
cluding the  little  flower  girls,  performed  their 
parts  without  mistake  or  discomposure.  Kisses, 
congratulations,  and  good  wishes  followed;  then 
the  wedding  feast  was  partaken  of  leisurely  and 
with  mirth  and  jollity,  the  bridal  dress  was 
exchanged  for  a  beautiful  travelling  suit,  the 
farewells  were  spoken,  with  cheery  remind- 
ers that  the  separation  was  to  be  but  temporary, 
the  bride  expecting  soon  to  rejoin  the  dear 
home  circle.  That  thought  was  a  very  com- 
forting one  to  her,  and,  though  tears  had  fallen 
at  the  parting  from  her  loved  ones, — especially 
her  mother, — they  soon  ceased  their  flow  under 


186  JEL8IE  AT  HOME. 

the  tenderly  affectionate  caresses  and  endear- 
ments of  him  who  was  henceforward  to  be  to 
her  the  nearest  and  dearest  of  all  earthly  loved 
ones,  and  her  face  grew  radiant  with  happiness 
as  he  had  hoped  to  see  it  on  their  bridal  day. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Neakly  all  the  guests — relatives  and  dear 
friends — remained  for  some  hours  after  the  de- 
parture of  the  bride  and  groom,  some  convers- 
ing together  upon  the  veranda,  some  wandering 
in  couples  or  little  companies  about  the  grounds 
or  sitting  in  the  shade  of  the  beautiful  trees  on 
the  lawn. 

Most  of  the  young  people,  especially  those 
of  them  who  had  been  attendants  of  the  bride 
and  groom,  gathered  about  Grandma  Elsie — 
for  they  all  loved  her,  and  everyone  felt  that 
she  had  particular  need  of  some  pleasant  dis- 
traction of  thought  just  at  that  time,  to  prevent 
her  from  dwelling  upon  the  partial  loss  of  her 
youngest  daughter. 

Walter  was,  of  course,  one  of  the  group,  and 
he  presently  plunged  into  lively  accounts  of  his 
college-boy  experiences,  very  interesting  and 
amusing  to  him  and  presumably  so  to  others, 
as,  in  fact,  they  were  to  most  if  not  all  of 

187 


188  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

his  auditors^,  his  older  brothers  among  the 
rest;  for  it  seemed  to  carry  them  back,  in  at 
least  a  measure,  to  their  o^vti  Freshman  days, 
with  all  their  trials  and  triumphs,  their  pleas- 
ures and  annoyances. 

"  Did  anybody  do  anything  very  bad  to  you, 
Walter?"  asked  Grace. 

"  No;  not  very,"  he  replied;  "  hazing  has 
been  almost  abolished,  and  what  is  still  done  is 
by  no  means  unendurable. 

"Oh!  I  must  tell  you  of  a  bit  of  fun  we  had 
only  the  other  day.  On  the  porch  of  one  of 
our  boarding  houses  a  countryman  had  set  down 
a  basket  of  eggs — about  twenty  dozen  I  was 
told — that  he  had  brought  in  for  customers; 
and  there  they  stood,  looking  as  tempting  as 
possible,  especially  to  wild  young  college  boys, 
some  of  whom,  coming  there  when  recitations 
were  over  and  the  dinner  hour  approaching,  saw 
them  and  were  immediately  smitten  with  a 
desire  to  handle,  if  not  to  taste  them.  One  fel- 
low snatched  up  an  agg  and  threw  it  at  an- 
other; it  struck  him,  broke,  and  bespattered  his 
clothes.  He,  naturally,  retaliated  in  kind,  and 
other  fellows  followed  their  example,  the  fun 


tJLSIE  AT  HOME.  189 

growing  fast  and  furious,  till  every  Qgg  the  bas- 
ket had  contained  was  gone,  and  porch,  stu- 
dents, and  their  clothing  were  a  sight  to 
behold." 

"  And  what  did  the  farmer  say  when  he  came 
back  for  his  basket  and  found  it  empty?" 
asked  Lucilla. 

"  He  was  very  angry,  but  those  who  had 
broken  the  eggs  paid  him  his  full  price,  and  he 
went  off  tolerably  well  satisfied,  though  he 
growled  that  he  was  compelled  to  disappoint 
his  customers. 

"  The  boarding  house  keeper  was  angry,  too, 
but  stopped  scolding  when  told  that  the  mis- 
chief should  be  repaired  at  the  expense  of  those 
who  had  caused  it." 

"  The  clothes  of  those  engaged  in  the  row 
must  have  been  in  a  pretty  bad  condition,"  re- 
marked Harold. 

"  Yes,  of  course;  and  they  had  some  fine 
tailors'  bills  to  pay  before  they  were  again 
presentable." 

"  A  shameful  waste  of  good  food  provided 
by  our  Heavenly  Father,  that  someone's  hunger 
might  be  satisfied,"  remai'ked  Grandma  Elsie 


190  ELSt^  AT  BOMB: 

gravely.  "  Surely  the  young  men  engaged  in 
it  must  have  forgotten  the  teaching  of  our 
Saviour  when  he  said,  ^  Gather  up  the  frag- 
ments that  remain,  that  nothing  be  lost/  " 

"  Mamma!  I  had  forgotten  that,"  exclaimed 
Walter,  blushing  vividly. 

"  A  poor  excuse,  my  son,"  she  replied. 
" '  Remember  all  the  commandments  of  the 
Lord,  and  do  them.'  Those  are  his  own 
words  given  to  Moses  to  speak  unto  the  Chil- 
dren of  Israel.  Jesus  was  and  is  God;  there- 
fore what  he  commanded  is  the  command  of 
God.  And  since  he  had  just  proved  liis  ability 
to  create  abundance  of  food,  his  command  to 
avoid  waste  must  have  been  given  for  the  bene- 
fit of  his  hearers;  and  can  you  think  he  would 
have  approved  of  the  waste  of  good,  nourishing 
food  of  which  you  have  just  been  telling?  " 

"  Xo,  mother;  I  am  convinced  that  it  was  not 
right;  that  it  was,  in  fact,  wicked  waste.  I 
must  own  that  I  had  a  share  in  it;  but  I  prom- 
ise you  I  will  never  be  guilty  of  the  like  again. 
It  does  seem  very  wrong  when  one  thinks  of  the 
multitudes  of  people  in  different  parts  of  the 
world  who  are  actually  starving." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  191 

"Yes,  I  hope  you  will  be  more  thoughtful 
in  future' — will  use  your  influence  against  such 
objectionable  sport;  surely  bright  young  men 
and  boys  should  be  capable  of  finding  or  making 
better  or  less  blameworthy  fun.  You  may  feel 
assured,  however,  that  your  mother  is  interested 
in  all  that  interests  you.  So  if  you  have  any- 
thing more  to  tell  of  your  college  experiences 
we  will  be  glad  to  hear  it." 

"  You  found  the  Sophs  rather  domineering, 
didn't  you,"  asked  Herbert. 

"  About  as  much  so  as  they  dared  to  be,  I 
should  say,"  laughed  Walter.  "  For  instance, 
they  won't  let  the  Freshes  wear  white  duck 
trousers  till  some  time  in  May.  Nor  will  they 
allow  them  to  wear  the  colours  gold  and 
black  till  just  at  the  close  of  their  Freshman 
year." 

"Well,  that  is  tyranny!"  exclaimed  Lucilla, 
"  and  if  I  were  a  Freshman  I  wouldn't  stand 
it." 

"  Ah!  but  if  you  didn't  you  might  have  some- 
thing worse  to  stand,"  laughed  Walter.  Then 
he  went  on,  "  I  must  tell  you  about  the  cane 
spree.     They  have  it  at  the  time  of  the  first 


192  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

full  moon.  The  players  are  three  men  from 
each  class — one  light-weight,  one  middle, 
and  one  heavy-weight.  The  students  of  all 
classes  gather  in  a  circle  around  them  to 
watch  the  sport.  First  the  light-weights  try  a 
tussle  for  the  cane;  then  the  middles,  and  lastly 
the  heavys.  It  is  not  so  much  strength  as  skill 
that  wins,  and  the  victors  keep  their  canes  as 
trophies,  and  are  proud  to  show  them  for  the 
rest  of  their  lives." 

"  Well,  really,''  laughed  Maud  Dinsmore,  "  it 
does  not  strike  me  as  anything  worth  taking 
particular  pride  in." 

"  Mayhap  that  is  because  you  are  only  a  girl, 
Maud,"  remarked  Chester  teasingly. 

"  Yes,"  she  returned  sportively,  "  if  I  were 
only  a  boy  I  might  be  as  silly  as  the  others." 

"  Does  it  strike  you  as  very  silly,  Gracie  ?  " 
asked  Walter. 

"  Well,  no;  not  for  boys,"  she  returned  doubt- 
fully, "  but  rather  so  for  a  man.  There 
are  so  many  other  things  in  which — at  least  it 
seems  to  me — it  would  be  better  worth  while  to 
excel." 

"Yes;    so    there    are,"    he    agreed   with   a 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  193 

thoughtful  look.  "  And  yet  an  occasional  bit 
of  sport  is  a  good  thing  even  for  a  man." 

"  That  is  very  true,"  said  Harold;  "  and  cer- 
tainly as  true  for  brain-workers  as  for  any  who 
toil  with  their  hands." 

"Doesn't  it  seem  pleasant  to  be  at  home 
again,  Walter?  "  asked  Grace. 

"  Yes,  indeed!  "  he  exclaimed.  "  There  is 
no  place  like  home — especially  home  with 
mother  in  it." 

"  Or  with  father  in  it,"  added  Grace  as,  at 
that  moment.  Captain  Kaymond  joined  the 
circle. 

"  Such  a  father  as  ours,"  said  Lucilla,  looking 
up  at  him  with  a  smile  of  proud,  fond  affection. 
He  returned  it,  accepted  an  offered  seat,  and 
asked  Walter  if  he  had  been  entertaining  the 
company  with  tales  of  college  doings  and  ex- 
periences. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  returned  the  lad.  "  I  suppose  it 
is  the  usual  thing  for  a  Freshman  to  do  on 
coming  home  at  the  end  of  his  year." 

"  Quite;  his  head  being  pretty  full  of  them," 
was  the  playful  rejoinder.  "  Well,  little — no, 
young  brother — I  hope  the  old  tutor  has  not 


194  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

been  entirely  forgotten  in  admiration  and  af- 
fection for  the  new  ?  " 

"  No>  sir;  no,  indeed !  and  never  will  be/'  re- 
turned Walter,  speaking  with  an  energy  and 
earnestness  that  brought  a  smile  to  the  captain's 
lips  and  eyes.  "  I.  shall  show  myself  strangely 
ungrateful  if  I  ever  forgot  the  patience  and 
kindness  with  which  my  oldest  brother  in- 
structed me;  and  all  for  no  reward  at  all." 

"  Ah!  there  you  are  mistaken/'  said  Captain 
Raymond  pleasantly.  "  It  was  reward  enough 
to  know  that  I  was  helping  to  fit  you  for  future 
usefulness.  I  hope,  my  boy,  you  will  live  to 
be  an  honour  to  your  mother  and  a  blessing  to 
the  world." 

"  I  hope  so,  sir;  it  is  my  ardent  wish/'  Wal- 
ter said  low  and  earnestly,  giving  his  mother 
a  most  loving  look  as  he  spoke. 

"  And  if  you  trust  not  in  your  own  strength, 
but  look  constantly  to  God  for  help,  you  will 
succeed,  my  son,"  she  responded  in  low,  moved 
tones. 

Just  at  that  moment  there  were  several  ad- 
ditions to  their  group,  among  them  Captain 
Keith  and  Dr.  Percival,  and  the  talk  turned 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  196 

upon  plans  for  the  next  few  days,  and  after 
that  for  the  summer.  Most  of  the  relatives 
from  a  distance  would  linger  in  that  neighbour- 
hood for  a  week  or  more,  and  entertainments 
of  one  kind  and  another  would  be  given  by 
those  residents  there.  The  Oaks,  The  Laurels, 
Fairview,  Woodburn,  Roselands,  and  Beech- 
wood  would  have  their  turns.  After  that  must 
come  the  inevitable  breaking  up  and  scattering 
of  guests  to  their  own  homes  or  some  summer 
resort,  while  most  of  the  dwellers  in  that  re- 
gion would  go  northward  in  search  of  a  cooler 
climate  in  which  to  pass  the  heated  term.  But 
it  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  settle  it  all  now; 
only  to  arrange  on  which  day  ea*-'  estate  would 
be  the  scene  of  entertainment.  It  took  a  good 
deal  of  consultation,  mingled  with  merry  jests 
and  happy  laughter,  to  settle  all  that.  Then 
there  was  a  general  leave  taking  and  scattering 
to  their  homes — temporary  or  settled. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  wedding  had  been  on  Wednesday.  On 
Thursday  all  gathered,  by  invitation,  at  the 
Oaks,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dinsmore  gave  them 
a  royal  entertainment.  On  Friday  the  same 
thing  was  repeated  at  The  Laurels,  on  Saturday 
at  Fairview,  and  on  the  following  Monday  all 
were  to  assemble  at  Woodburn. 

Being  a  Christian,  Sabbath  keeping  connec- 
tion, no  one  thought  for  a  moment  of  profaning 
the  Lord's  day  by  frivolity  and  merry  making. 
Those  who  were  able  attended  church  in  the 
morning;  in  the  afternoon  the  Ion  and  Wood- 
burn  people  taught  their  Sunday-school  classes 
as  usual,  and  afterward  held  a  Bible  class  among 
themselves  at  Woodburn,  that  being  the  point 
nearest  to  the  schoolhouse  on  the  Woodburn 
place,  at  which  they  had  just  concluded  the 
exercises  for  the  day. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Landreth  and  her  brother,  the 

196 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  197 

Eev.  Cyril  Keith  were^  just  at  that  time,  among 
the  guests  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Eaymond,  and, 
by  the  request  of  the  little  compan}^  the  min- 
ister lead  the  exercises. 

Turning  over  the  leaves  of  his  Bible,  "  The 
thought  strikes  me,"  he  said,  "  that  perhaps 
godliness  would  be  as  good  a  subject  for  to- 
day's consideration  as  we  could  find.  ^  Godli- 
ness with  contentment  is  great  gain,'  the 
apostle  tells  us.  It  is  a  duty  and  the  part  of 
wisdom  to  be  contented  with  what  God  our 
heavenly  Father  has  seen  fit  to  give  us  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life;  for  there  is  no  happi- 
ness to  be  found  in  discontent,  murmuring,  and 
repining;  envying  those  who  seem  to  us  to  have 
a  larger  share  than  ours  of  the  riches  and  pleas- 
ures of  earth.  '  We  brought  nothing  into  this 
world,  and  it  is  certain  we  can  cany  nothing 
out.  And,  having  food  and  raiment,  let  us  be 
therewith  content."  Happiness  does  not  de- 
pend upon  the  amount  of  our  earthly  posses- 
sions. '  Trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good,  so 
slialt  thou  dwell  in  the  land,  and  verily  thou 
shalt  be  fed.'  That  promise  alone  should  be 
enough   to   make   one  contented  and   happy, 


198  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

even  though  possessed  of  but  very  little  of  this 
world's  goods.  Indeed,  why  should  we  care  to 
have  much  of  that  which  may  at  any  moment 
fall  from  our  grasp?  Let  us  rather  seek  the 
true  riches  which  endure  unto  eternal  life.  Let 
us  follow  after  righteousness,  godliness,  faith, 
love,  patience,  meekness.  May  ours  be  ^  the 
path  of  the  just  which  is  as  the  shining  light 
that  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect 
day.' 

"  But  I  consented,  not  to  the  preaching  of  a 
sermon,  but  only  to  the  leading  of  the  exer- 
cises in  which  all  are  privileged  and  desired  to 
take  a  part.  Let  us  have  the  reading  or  quot- 
ing of  texts  bearing  upon  the  subject  of 
godliness." 

Then,  from  their  open  Bibles  they  read  in 
turn,  the  older  people  selecting  for  themselves, 
the  younger  searching  out  references  given 
them  by  their  leader. 

"  Papa,"  asked  Neddie,  when  there  was  a 
pause  in  the  reading,  "what  is  godliness? 
Does  it  mean  the  same  as  being  a  Christian?" 

"  Yes,  my  son." 

"  And  to  be  a  Christian  is  to  love  Jesus  and 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  199 

try  to  be  like  him  and  serve  him  everywhere 
and  all  the  time  ?  " 

"  Yes;  a  real,  true  Christian  is  one  who  fol- 
lows Christ,  striving  to  be  like  him  in  every 
way  and  to  keep  all  his  commands." 

"  I  think  I  do  want  to,  papa.  Please  tell  me 
more  about  it." 

''  We  must  study  the  Bible  to  learn  all  about 
Christ  Jesus — how  he  lived  in  this  world,  what 
he  did,  and  what  he  did  not  do,  what  sort  of 
spirit  he  showed — and  strive  to  have  the  same 
spirit  ourselves;  for  the  Bible  tells  us  ^  If  any 
man  have  not  the  spirit  of  Christ  he  is  none  of 
his.'  Jesus  said,  ^  I  must  be  about  my  Father's 
business,'  and  if  God  is  our  Father  we  too  will 
be  about  his  business." 

'^  But  how,  papa?     I  don't  understand  it." 

"  Jesus  came  to  save  souls;  and  we  must  try 
to  save  them  by  leading  them  to  him;  first  by 
serving  him  ourselves,  then  by  persuading 
others  to  do  the  same — telling  them  of  all  his 
great  goodness  and  mercy,  his  loving  kindness, 
and  how  he  suffered  and  bled  and  died  that 
sinners  might  be  saved — even  those  who  hated 
and  persecuted  him.     How  strange  it  is  that 


200  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

we  do  not  love  him  more  and  serve  him 
better! " 

*^  And  how  enduring  is  that  love — the  love 
of  Christ/^  added  Grandma  Elsie.  "  His  own 
word  is^  ^  Yea,  I  have  loved  thee  with  an  ever- 
lasting love:  therefore  with  loving  kindness 
have  I  drawn  thee.'  " 

^^  And  he  laid  down  his  life  for  us/'  said  Mrs. 
Landreth.  '^  And  he  himself  said,  ^  Greater 
love  hath  no  man  than  this,  that  a  man  lay 
down  his  life  for  his  friends.  Ye  are  my  friends 
if  ye  do  whatsoever  I  command  you.'  " 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  test,"  said  Mr  Dinsmore; 
"  we  have  no  right  to  consider  ourselves  his 
disciples  unless  we  are  striving  earnestly  to 
keep  all  his  commandments.  He  himself  said, 
'  Either  make  the  tree  good  and  his  fruit 
good;  or  else  make  the  tree  corrupt,  and  his 
fruit  corrupt:  for  a  tree  is  known  by  his 
fruit.' " 

"  Yes;  if  we  love  our  Father  we  will  strive 
earnestly  to  keep  his  commandments  and  not 
feel  them  to  be  grievous.  A  loving  child  is  an 
obedient  one,"  said  Mr.  Keith.  " '  For  this  is 
the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep  his  command- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  201 

nients:  and  his  commandments  are  not 
grievous.' " 

" '  God  commendeth  his  love  toward  iis^  in 
that,  while  we  were  yet  sinners,  Christ  died  for 
us/ "  quoted  his  son  Donald.  "  In  his  love 
and  in  his  pity  he  redeemed  us.'' 

Then  there  was  a  moment's  pause,  presently 
broken  by  Mr.  Dinsmore  starting  the  hymn 
"  Love  divine,  all  love  excelling,"  in  which  the 
other  voices  promptly  joined. 

That  closed  the  exercises  for  that  time,  and 
those  who  had  come  merely  to  take  part  in 
them  bade  good-bye  for  that  day  with  the  expec- 
tation of  returning  on  the  following  one.  And 
those  who  remained  behind  scattered  to  their 
rooms  until  the  summons  of  the  tea  bell 
brought  them  together  again  about  the  table, 
to  partake  of  their  evening  meal;  after  which 
they  repaired  to  the  veranda  and  spent  in  con- 
versation and  music,  suited  to  its  sacredness,  the 
closing  hours  of  that  Lord's  day. 

Captain  Eaymond  and  his  wdfe  lingered  for  a 
little  upon  the  veranda  after  their  guests  had 
gone  to  their  rooms.  They  sat  side  b}^  side^ — 
he  with  his  arm  about  her  waist,  her  hand  fast 


202  BL8IE  AT  HOME. 

clasped  in  his^  while  her  head  rested  upon  his 
shoulder  and  her  eyes  looked  up  lovingly  into 
his  face. 

"  My  dear/'  she  said  softly  and  with  a  beau- 
tiful smile,  "  I  am  so  happy.  I  love  you  so,  so 
devotedly,  and  am  so  sure  that  your  love  for 
me  is  equally  strong." 

"  I  think  it  is,  my  darling — light  of  my  eyes 
and  core  of  my  heart,"  he  responded  low  and 
feelingly.  "  You  are  to  me  the  dearest,  sweet- 
est, loveliest  of  earthly  creatures.  I  can  never 
cease  wondering  at  my  great  good  fortune  in 
securing  such  a  treasure  for  my  own.  I  am 
rich,  rich  in  love.  My  children  are  all  very 
near  and  dear  to  me,  and  I  know  and  feel  that 
I  am  to  them,  but  you — ah,  I  think  you  are 
dearer  than  all  five  of  them  put  together! " 

"  Ah,"  she  said  with  a  joyous  smile,  "  those 
are  sweet,  sweet  words  io  me!  And  yet  they 
make  me  feel  almost  as  if  I  had  robbed  them — 
your  children.  They  all  love  you  so  dearly,  as 
you  have  said,  and  set  so  high  a  value  upon 
your  love  to  them." 

"  And  it  is  very  great :  none  the  less  because 
my  love  for  you  is  still  greater.     You,  my  dear 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  203 

wife,  are  my  second  self — ^bone  of  my  bone 
and  flesh  of  my  flesh.'  It  is  right  that  our 
mutual  love  should  exceed  all  other  earthly 
loves." 

"  Yes;  and  yet  I  fear  it  would  make  Lu — 
perhaps  Gracie  also — unhappy  to  know  that  you 
have  greater  love  for  anyone  else  than  for 
them." 

"  I  think  they  do  know  it,  and  also  that  it  is 
right  that  it  should  be  so.  And  I  presume  they 
will  both  some  day  love  someone  else  better 
than  their  father.  I  cannot  blame  them  if 
they  do." 

"  Perhaps  the  love  differs  more  in  kind  than 
degree,"  Violet  said  presently. 

"  Yes;  there  is  something  in  that,"  he  re- 
turned; '^yet  it  is  not  altogether  that  which 
satisfies  me.  We  are  all  bidden  to  love  one 
another.  ^  Husbands,  love  your  wives,  even  as 
Christ  also  loved  the  Church,  and  gave  himself 
for  it.  .  .  So  ought  men.  to  love  their  wives 
as  their  own  bodies.  He  that  loveth  his  wife 
loveth  himself.  .  .  Let  every  one  of  you  in 
particular  so  love  his  wife  even  as  himself.'  " 

He  paused  and  Violet  finished  the  quotation. 


204  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

'^  ^  And  the  wife  see  that  she  reverence  her 
husband/  Ah^  it  is  easy  for  me  to  do  that 
with  such  a  husband  as  mine,"  she  added. 
"  Also,  I  remember  that  in  Paul's  epistle  to 
Titus  there  is  a  passage,  where  the  aged  women 
are  bidden  to  teach  the  younger  ones  to  be 
sober,  to  love  their  husbands,  to  love  their 
children.  And  in  the  next  verse  to  be  obedi- 
ent to  their  husbands.  I  think  I  have  kept 
that  command  as  far  as  I  could  ^vithout  getting 
any  orders  from  mine,"  she  concluded,  smiling 
up  into  his  eyes. 

^^  Yes,  indeed,  dearest,"  he  said,  returning 
the  smile  and  drawing  her  closer  to  his  side  with 
a  fond  gesture,  "  where  one's  slightest  wish  is 
promptly  and  eagerly  complied  with  a  command 
would  be  altogether  superfluous.  And  though  I 
consider  it  wise  and  right — yes,  an  unquestion- 
able duty  to  exact  prompt,  cheerful  obedience 
from  my  children,  I  do  not  think  I  should  ask  it 
of  my  wife.  The  women  of  the  apostle's  day 
w^ere  not  the  educated,  self-reliant  ones  of  the 
present  time;  therefore  our  wives  are  hardly  to 
be  expected  to  conform  themselves  strictly  to 
the  rules  he  lays  down  for  them.     But  if  hus- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  205 

band  and  wife  love  each  other  as  they  ought, — 
as  3^011  and  I  do,  for  instance, — any  friction  be- 
tween them  will  be  a  thing  of  rare  occurrence." 

"  And  when,  if  ever,  there  is  any,"  said  Vio- 
let, "  I  think  the  wife  should  be  the  one  to  give 
way — unless  she  feels  that  to  yield  to  the 
wishes  of  her  husband  would  be  a  breach  of  the 
moral  law;  but  in  that  case  she  must  remember 
the  answer  of  Peter  to  the  high  priest,  '  We 
ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men/  " 

"  Yes,"  he  said;  "  and  when  a  parent  com- 
mands something  which  is  plainly  contrary  to 
God's  command, — lying  or  stealing  for  instance, 
— it  is  the  child's  duty  to  refuse  to  obey. 
There  are  parents,  alas!  who  do  train  their  chil- 
dren to  vice  and  crime,  and  when  that  is  the 
case  they,  the  children,  must  remember  and 
act  upon  the  teaching  of  the  apostle,  *^  We  ought 
to  obey  God  rather  than  men.' " 

"  How  I  pity  children  who  are  placed  in 
such  circumstances,"  sighed  Violet.  "  Oh,  I 
often  think  what  a  cause  for  gratitude  I  have 
in  the  fact  that  my  parents  were  earnest  Chris- 
tians, and  brought  me  and  all  their  children 
up  in  the  fear  of  God;  also  that  my  children 


206  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

have  an  earnest,  devoted  Christian  for  their 
father." 

"  And  for  their  mother,  my  sweet  wife/'  he 
added  with  emotion. 

Neither  spoke  again  for  some  moments.  It 
was  Violet  who  broke  the  silence. 

"  My  dear/'  she  said,  "  I  wonder  if  you  have 
noticed,  as  I  have,  that  my  cousin  Donald 
greatly  admires  our  Lu." 

^^  Ah!  has  he  told  you  so,  my  love?  "  queried 
the  captain,  a  touch  of  regret  and  anxiety  in  his 
tone. 

"Oh,  no!"  laughed  Violet;  "but  he  looks 
at  her  with  evidently  admiring  eyes,  listens 
eagerly  to  anything  and  everything  she  says, 
and  especially  to  her  playing  and  singing;  which 
are  certainly  worth  hearing.  He  greatly  ad- 
mires her  drawings  and  paintings,  too,  some  of 
which  I  was  showing  him  the  other  day;  also 
her  evident  devotion  to  her  father,  and  readi- 
ness to  assist  and  make  herself  useful  to  him  in 
every  possible  way." 

"  Yes,"  sighed  the  captain,  "  her  father  would 
hardly  know  what  to  do  without  her.  Yet,  of 
course,  I  should  be  far  from  willing  to  stand  in 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  20Y 

the  way  of  my  child's  happiness.  However,  I 
hope  and  believe  that  her  father  is  still  nearer 
and  dearer  to  her  than  any  other  human  crea- 
ture. She  has  often  assured  me  that  such  was 
the  fact;  not  waiting  to  be  questioned,  but  tell- 
ing the  story  of  her  love  as  something  in  which 
we  could  both  rejoice,  and  which  she  was  sure 
was  reciprocal.  As  it  certainly  is.  I  love  her 
very  dearly;  though  not  more  than  I  do  each  of 
the  others.  Indeed,  it  gives  me  a  heartache  to 
think  I  shall  ever  be  called  to  part  with  any  one 
of  them." 

^^  Not  very  soon,  I  hope,"  said  Violet.  "  You 
have  frequently  told  me  you  did  not  intend  to 
let  either  of  your  daughters  marry  for  years  to 
come." 

"  No,  I  do  not;  and  as  I  dread  the  pain,  for 
both  them  and  myself,  which  would  be  caused 
by  the  necessity  for  refusing  to  let  them  follow 
their  inclinations  in  such  a  matter,  I  sincerely 
hope  no  one  will  succeed  in  winning  their 
affections  for  years  to  come." 

"  Then  if  I  am  right  about  Donald  and  he 
asks  your  permission  to  make  an  offer  to  Lu, 
you  will  forbid  him  to  do  so?" 


208  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

At  first  the  captain's  only  reply  was  an 
•amused  sort  of  smile.  Then  he  said:  "I  must 
tell  you  of  a  talk  Donald  and  I  had,  some  years 
ago,  at  West  Point.  You  perhaps  remember 
that  I  took  Max  and  Lulu  there,  and  found 
Donald  already  at  the  hotel,  and  we  spent  a  few 
days  together,  the  children  with  us  nearly  all 
the  time.  One  night  I  sent  them  early  to  bed, 
and,  afterward,  spent  an  hour  or  more  talking 
with  my  friend  alone  on  the  piazza.  In  that 
talk  he  expressed  a  great  admiration  for  my 
little  girl,  and — half  in  jest,  half  in  earnest 
• — asked  leave  to  try  to  win  her  when  she 
should  reach  a  proper  age.  I  told  him  cer- 
tainly not  for  at  least  six  years.  It  is  five 
now." 

"  Then  he  ought  to  wait  at  least  another 
year,"  remarked  Violet,  who  had  listened  with 
keen  interest  to  her  husband's  little  story. 

'^  Yes;  and  I  hope  he  will  feel  that  obliga- 
tion and  refrain,  for  the  present  at  least,  from 
courting  her.  And,  though  I  should  be  sorry 
for  my  friend's  disappointment,  I  cannot 
help  hoping  that  he  has  not  won,  and  will  not 
win,  my  daughter's  heart.     I  want  to  become 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  209 

neither  his  father^  nor  my  daughter's  cousin," 
he  added  with  a  shght  laugh. 

"  Why,  yes,  to  be  sure !  I  had  not  thought 
about  those  relationsliips,"  exclaimed  Violet, 
joining  in  his  mirth.  "  But,"  she  added, 
"  Donald  is  so  distant  a  relative  of  mine  that, 
if  that  were  the  only  objection,  it  need  not,  I 
think,  stand  in  the  way." 

"  No,  perhaps  not.  A  greater  objection  to 
me,  so  far  as  I  am  concerned,  would  be  the 
fact  that,  if  married  to  an  army  officer,  my 
daughter  would  be  kept  at  a  distance  from  me 
nearly  all  the  time." 

"  i^  nd  to  me,  as  well  as  to  you,  that  would 
be  an  almost  insurmountable  objection;  for  Lu 
and  I  are  now  the  closest  and  dearest  of  friends 
— bosom  companions.  I  should  hardly  know 
what  to  do  without  her — the  dear,  sweet  girl! " 

'•  Ah!  it  makes  me  very  happy  to  hear  and 
know  that,"  he  said  with  a  glad  smile,  adding, 
'•'it  is  hardly  news;  for  I  have  seen  for  a  good 
while  that  you  were  very  fond  of  each  other." 

"  Yes;  we  are  like  sisters.  I  should  miss  Lu 
almost  more  than  I  shall  Rosie,  as  we  are  to- 
gether so  much  more  constantly.     Oh,  I  don't 


210  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

like  to  think  of  it!  and  I  sincerely  hope  it  may 
be  years  before  she  learns  to  love  any  other  man 
well  enough  to  be  willing  to  leave  her  sweet 
home  under  her  father's  roof." 

"  A  hope  in  which  I  join  with  all  my  heart/' 
said  her  husband;  "  and  one  that  I  trust  Donald 
is  not  going  to  ask  me  to  resign." 

^^  If  he  does,  just  remind  him  of  the  exact 
terms  of  the  answer  you  gave  him  at  West 
Point/'  returned  Violet  in  playful  tones.  "  But 
now  I  think  it  is  time  for  us  to  retire;  do  not 
you  ?  "  releasing  herself  from  his  embrace  and 
rising  to  her  feet  as  she  spoke. 

"  Yes/'  he  said,  "  I  would  not  have  my  wife 
miss  her  beauty  sleep." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

LuciLLA  was  in  bed  but  not  asleep.  She  had 
retired  to  her  room  when  the  guests  went  to 
theirs,  and  without  a  formal  good-night  to  her 
father,  trusting  to  his  coming  to  her  there  for 
a  few  moment's  chat,  as  he  almost  always  did. 
But  he  had  not  come,  and  she  felt  sorely  dis- 
appointed. It  was  a  beautiful,  luxuriously 
furnished  room,  this  bed  chamber  of  hers — the 
view  from  its  windows,  a  lovely  one  of  care- 
fully kept  grounds,  cultivated  fields,  woods,  and 
streams;  all  looking  their  loveliest  just  now  as 
seen  by  the  silver  light  of  the  moon,  which 
shone  in  upon  her  through  rich  lace  curtains, 
gently  wafted  to  and  fro  by  the  summer  breeze, 
as  it  came  in  laden  with  the  sweet  scent  of 
flowers  from  the  ga^rden  below. 

"  What  a  sweet,  lovely  home  I  have!  Oh, 
how  much  to  be  thankful  for!  good  health,  kind 
friends,  and  such  a  dear  father! "  she  said  half 
aloud;  "  but  I  want  a  good-night  kiss  and  a 

211 


212  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

word  or  two  of  fatherly  affection,  and  it  does 
seem  as  if  I  canH  go  to  sleep  without  it.  Oh, 
dear!  can  it  be  that  he  is  displeased  with  me 
about  anything?  I  am  not  conscious  of  having 
done  anything  he  would  disapprove." 

"  Nor  have  you,  so  far  as  I  know,  daughter 
mine,"  said  a  pleasant  voice  close  at  her  side, 
vrhile  a  hand  was  laid  tenderly  on  her  head. 

'^  Oh,  papa! "  she  cried  joyously,  starting  up 
to  a  sitting  posture  as  she  spoke.  "  I  did  not 
know  you  were  there — did  not  hear  you  come 
in;  but  1  am  so  glad  you  have  come!  " 

"  Are  you  ?  "  he  asked,  seating  himself  on  the 
side  of  the  bed  and  drawing  her  into  his  arms. 
"  Well,  daughter,  it  is  only  for  a  moment,  to 
bid  you  good-night,  as  usual,  and  see  that  you 
are  in  need  of  nothing.  Tell  me,  are  all  your 
A\^ants  supplied  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  now  that  I  have  my  father  here 
to  give  me  his  good-night  kiss  and  blessing. 
Ah!  papa  dear,  I  do  not  know  how  I  could  ever 
live  away  from  you  again.  I  am  so  glad  you 
no  longer  have  to  go  sailing  away  over  the 
ocean,  leaving  your  cliildren  behind." 

*'  I  am  glad  of  it,  too,"  he  returned,  "  but  I 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  213 

sometimes  fear  that  the  day  may  come  when  my 
dear  eldest  daughter  will  want  to  leave  me  for 
a  home  with  someone  else." 

"  Indeed,  father  dear,  you  need  not  have  the 
slightest  fear  of  that,"  she  said,  laying  her  head 
against  his  breast  with  a  low,  happy  laugh.  "  I 
am  sure  there  isn't  in  the  wide  world  any  other 
man  whom  I  could  love  half  so  well  as  I  do 
you.  I  am  just  as  glad  to  belong  to  you  now  as 
ever  I  was." 

"  And  don't  want  me  to  give  you  away?  " 

"No,  no,  indeed!"  she  cried  with  energy. 
"  Oh,  papa!  you  surely  are  not  thinking  of  such 
a  thing?  You  have  said,  over  and  over  again, 
that  you  would  not, — at  least  not  for  years  yet, 
— even  if  I  wanted  you  to." 

"And  I  say  the  same  now;  so  don't  be  wanting 
me  to,"  he  returned  in  jesting  tone,  and  laying 
her  down  upon  her  pillow  as  he  spoke.  "  Now 
go  to  sleep  at  once,  that  you  may  be  ready  to 
rise  at  your  usual  early  hour  and  join  your 
father  in  the  morning  stroll  about  the  grounds. 
^  The  Lord  bless  thee  and  keep  thee;  the  Lord 
make  his  face  shine  upon  thee,  and  be  gracious 
unto  thee;  the  Ijord  lift  up  his  countenance 


214  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

upon  thee,  and  give  thee  peace/  "  he  added  in 
tender,  solemn  tones,  his  hand  resting  upon  her 
head  as  he  spoke. 

Then,  with  a  good-night  kiss  upon  her  lips, 
he  left  her,  and  contented  and  happy  she 
speedily  passed  into  the  land  of  dreams. 

The  captain,  passing  through  Grace's  room 
to  his  own,  paused  for  a  moment  at  her  bed- 
side, bent  over  her,  and  kissed  the  sweet  lips; 
but  she  slept  on,  unconscious  of  the  caress. 

He  found  Violet  still  awake,  repeated  to  her 
his  little  talk  w4th  Lucilla,  and  added,  with 
evident  satisfaction,  ^'  I  feel  convinced  that,  as 
yet,  no  one  has  made  any  impression  upon  her 
heart,  that  I,  her  father,  still  hold  the  fort 
there." 

"  Yes;  I  have  hardly  a  doubt  of  it,"  returned 
,  Violet;  "  and  it  may  be  many  a  long  day  before 
she  is  deluded  into  thinking  there  is  any  other 
man  who  begins  to  compare  to  him;  something 
that  I  have  known  for  years  was  not  the  case," 
she  concluded  with  a  happy  laugh. 

The  sun  was  hardly  above  the  horizon  when 
Lucilla  awoke;  but  she  sprang  up  hastily,  with 
the  thought  that  her  father  would  soon  be  out 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  215 

in  the  grounds,  and  she  wanted  to  be  with  him. 
There  would  be  a  great  deal  to  attend  to  in 
preparation  for  their  expected  guests,  and  per- 
haps she  could  be  of  some  assistance;  at  all 
events  she  would  like  to  see  all  that  was  going 
on,  and  give  her  opinion  on  any  doubtful 
subject. 

So  she  lost  no  time  about  attending  to  the 
duties  of  the  hour  and  place,  spending  a  little 
time  upon  her  knees,  asking  for  the  watch- 
ful care  of  her  Heavenly  Father  through  all  the 
day,  that  she  might  be  kept  from  folly  and  sin, 
and  have  strength  and  wisdom  to  do  every  duty 
and  meet  every  trial,  and  beseeching  his  bless- 
ing upon  all  her  dear  ones,  not  forgetting  the 
dear  brother  so  far  away  from  home  and  kin- 
dred. Then  she  made  a  rapid  but  careful 
toilet,  and  hastened,  with  light,  swift  footsteps, 
down  the  broad  stairway  and  out  upon  the  ver- 
anda, where  she  found  her  father  in  consulta- 
tion with  Christine,  the  housekeeper. 

Blithe  good-mornings  were  exchanged,  Chris- 
tine went  back  into  the  house,  and  father 
and  daughter  walked  out  together  into  the 
grounds. 


216  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

Preparations  were  going  on  for  the  entertain- 
ment of  the  expected  guests,  old  and  young,  and 
Lucilla  was  not  only  permitted,  but  invited  to 
give  her  opinion  in  regard  to  them  all,  and  any 
suggestions  that  might  occur  to  her;  which  she 
did  frankly  and  fully,  and  with  the  result  that 
more  than  one  of  them  Avas  adopted;  for  her 
father  wished  to  please  her  and  had  great  con- 
fidence in  her  opinion  of  such  matters.  There 
were  croquet  and  tennis  grounds,  swings  in  the 
shade  of  the  trees  in  the  grove;  inviting-looking 
seats  there,  and  in  other  suitable  places;  there 
were  shaded  walks  and  winding  paths  through 
the  woods;  indeed,  every  sort  of  arrangement 
for  recreation  and  pleasure  that  could  be 
thought  of  and  prepared  for  in  the  allotted 
space. 

Captain  Raymond  and  his  daughter  walked 
about  inspecting  everything,  until  they  had 
gone  over  the  whole  place,  giving  all  needed 
directions  to  the  workmen  who  were  busied 
here  and  there  with  some  alterations  the  cap- 
tain had  decided  upon  the  previous  day,  then 
returned  to  the  house,  for  it  was  nearing  break- 
fast time, 


MSIE  AT  HOM^.  21^ 

They  found  Violet,  Grace,  and  the  two 
younger  children  on  the  veranda.  Morning 
greetings  were  exchanged,  then  Lucilla  hurried 
to  her  rooms  to  make  some  changes  in  her 
dress  and  was  coming  down  again  when  the 
breakfast  bell  rang. 

It  was  a  cheerful,  even  merry,  party  that 
gathered  about  the  table  to  partake  of  the  meal, 
an  excellent  one;  for  the  captain  and  Violet 
were  most  hospitable  entertainers. 

The  talk  ran  principally  upon  the  sports  that 
would  enliven  and  entertain  the  company  dur- 
ing the  day;  suggestions  from  any  and  every  one 
being  in  order;  and,  by  the  time  the  meal  was 
concluded,  all  felt  that  they  had  every  prospect 
of  a  most  enjoyable  holiday. 

"  The  weather  could  not  be  more  propitious 
than  it  is,"  remarked  Captain  Keith.  "  You 
began  your  enjoyment  of  it  early.  Miss  Lu/' 
turning  to  Lucilla.  "  I  happened  to  be  at  my 
window  and  saw  you  and  your  father  out  in  the 
grounds." 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  papa  and  I  usually  do  take 
a  stroll  about  them  before  breakfast.  He  is 
always  an  early  riser.     I  inherit  the  taste  for 


218  ELStE  AT  HOME. 

it  from  him  and,  being  in  excellent  health,  can 
indulge  it  without  injury." 

"  Which  is  something  to  be  thankful  for,"  he 
said  with  a  smile. 

"Yes,  indeed!"  she  returned  heartily. 
"  Health  and  strength  are  the  greatest  of 
earthly  blessings.  I  would  not  part  w^ith  them 
for  any  amount  of  money." 

"  No;  money  cannot  buy  health  and  strength, 
though  they  may  give  one  the  ability  to  earn 
money.  You,  however,  have  a  father  able  and 
willing  to  furnish  all  you  may  need  of  it." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  captain  in  his  pleasant  way, 
"  but  that  daughter  of  mine  likes  to  make  her- 
self useful  to  me,  and  does  so  to  such  an  ex- 
tent that  I  really  think  she  earns  all  she  gets." 

"  Oh,  no,  papa,  not  half! "  exclaimed  Lu- 
cilla,  blushing  with  pleasure  nevertheless. 
"  And  that  reminds  me  that  I  have  not  asked 
about  your  mail  this  morning.  Are  there  some 
letters  to  be  answered  on  the  typewriter?  " 

"  I  have  been  as  forgetful  as  yourself, 
daughter,"  her  father  answered  with  a  slight 
laugh.  "  Scip  "  (to  a  servant  in  waiting),  "  is 
the  mail  bag  on  the  library  table?  " 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  219 

"  I  think  so,  sah.     Shall  I  fotch  it  hyar?  " 

*^  Yes;  bring  it  here  to  me." 

It  was  brought,  opened,  and  found  to  contain 
letters  for  family  and  guests,  besides  newspapers 
and  magazines. 

They  were  speedily  distributed  to  the  owners, 
read, — some  of  them  aloud, — and  their  con- 
tents talked  over. 

Then  all  adjourned  to  the  library  for  the 
morning  service  of  prayer,  praise,  and  reading 
of  the  Scriptures,  after  which  they  scattered 
about  the  house  and  grounds. 

Captain  Eaymond's  share  of  the  mail  had 
included  some  business  letters,  and  he  called 
upon  Lucilla  to  use  her  typewriter  in  prepar- 
ing his  replies,  which  she  did  promptly  and 
cheerfully.    < 

"  Thank  you,  daughter,"  he  said  when  they 
had  finished,  "  you  and  your  typewriter  make 
my  correspondence  far  less  burdensome  than  it 
would  be  otherwise." 

"  I  am  so  glad,  papa!  so  glad  that  I  can  be 
of  at  least  a  little  help  to  you,"  she  said  joy- 
ously. ^^  It  is  such  a  privilege,  and  such  a 
pleasure! " 


220  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"Dear  child!"  he  said  in  response.  Then, 
as  the  sound  of  wheels  on  the  drive  without 
came  to  their  ears,  "  Ah!  our  guests  are  begin- 
ning to  arrive,  and  we  must  go  out  and  bid 
them  welcome." 

Several  carriage  loads  were  already  there,  and 
others  quickly  followed  till,  in  a  very  short 
time,  all  the  expected  relatives  were  present. 

Then  mirih  and  jollity  ruled  the  hour,  all — 
old  and  young — seeming  in  gayest  spirits  and 
ready  to  join  in  any  amusement  that  might  be 
proposed.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Croly  were  among  the 
guests.  She  had  gained  so  materially  in  health 
and  strength  that  she  was  able — resting  in  an 
easy-chair  upon  the  veranda — to  watch  the 
sports  of  the  younger  and  healthier  ones  with 
interest  and  enjoyment;  and  to  converse  with 
one  and  another  as  they  came  in  turn  to  chat 
with  her  for  a  time.  At  length,  finding  her- 
self alone  with  Grandma  Elsie  for  a  while,  she 
turned  to  her,  saying  in  a  sprightly  way: 

"  I  am  getting  so  much  better  under  the  skil- 
ful treatment  of  Dr.  Conly  that  I  ventured  on 
quite  a  drive  this  morning,  and  we  went  to  look 
at  a  little  place,  some  ten  or  more  acres  in  ex- 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  221 

tent,  about  which  your  son  Doctor  Harold  was 
telhng  us  3^esterday.  It  is  on  the  river  bank, 
tlie  lawn  sloping  down  to  the  water,  and  it  is 
hardly  farther  from  Ion  than  this  place.  It  is 
for  sale.  The  house  is  small,  but  pretty,  and 
could  easily  be  added  to,  and  so  made  as  large 
as  one  might  wish." 

"  Eiverside  is  the  name  of  the  estate  ?  "  Mrs. 
Tra villa  said  inquiringly. 

"  Yes;  a  pretty  one  we  both — Mr.  Croly  and 
I — think,  and  we  have  about  decided  to  buy  it 
and  enlarge  and  beautify  the  dwelling  for  our 
children, — our  son  and  your  daughter, — if  you 
think  that  would  please  dear  Eosie.'^ 

"  I  think  it  could  not  fail  to  do  so,"  Mrs. 
Travilla  replied,  her  eyes  sparkling  with  pleas- 
ure. *'•  It  will  be  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  have 
our  children  so  near,  and  I  was  thinking  of 
making  the  purchase  for  them  myself.  It  was 
only  this  morning  I  learned  that  the  place  was 
for  sale." 

"Ah!"  laughed  Mrs.  Croly,  "don't  try  to 
get  ahead  of  us.  We  want  the  place  ourselves, 
and  it  won't  hurt  the  young  folks  to  wait  for 
it  till  we  are  gone;  especially  as  we  intend  it 


222  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

to  be  as  much  a  home  for  them  immediately  as 
if  they  were  sole  proprietors." 

"  And  they  will  enjoy  it  all  the  more  for 
having  their  kind  parents  with  them/'  was  Mrs. 
Travilla's  pleased  response. 

Then  they  fell  to  talking  of  alterations  and 
additions  to  the  dwelling,  and  plans  for  fur- 
nishing and  decorating  it  and  the  grounds. 

"  I  am  very  glad  indeed  that  you  and  your 
husband  have  decided  to  settle  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood/' said  Mrs.  Tra villa;  "glad  that  we 
are  to  have  the  pleasure  of  your  society,  and 
that  Rosie's  married  home  will  not  be  at  a 
distance  from  that  of  her  childhood.  I  have 
been  very  fortunate  in  being  able  thus  far  to 
keep  all  my  children  near  me." 

"  Yes,  I  think  so;  and  I  do  not  wonder  that 
they  and  you  wish  to  keep  together.  I  feel 
just  so  in  regard  to  my  one.  Ah!  who  are 
those  two  ladies  approaching  on  the  drive- 
Avay?" 

"  One  I  call  mamma/'  Mrs.  Travilla  said  with 
a  smile;  "  she  is  my  father's  second  wife,  and 
has  been  my  dear  mother  since  I  was  a  little 
girl  of  ten.     The  other  is  Aunt  Adelaide,  a 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  223 

half  sister  of  my  father,  who  married  a  brother 
of  Mamma  Eose — Mr.  Edward  Allison  of 
Philadelphia." 

"Ah,  yes!  I  recognize  Mrs.  Dinsmore,  now 
that  they  have  drawn  nearer,  and  Mrs.  Allison 
as  someone  to  whom  I  have  been  introduced; 
but  I  have  met  so  many  strangers  in  the  last 
few  days  that  I  suppose  I  may  be  excused  for 
not  remembering  her  name  and  connection  with 
you  and  our  Rosie,"  she  concluded  with  a  smile, 
adding,  "You  will  excuse  me,  I  know,  for  claim- 
ing Eosie  as  mine  as  well  as  yours,  because  it 
is  so  sweet  to  me  to  have  a  daughter  at  long 
last." 

"  I  am  very  glad  you  feel  it  so,"  Mrs.  Tra- 
villa  returned  with  a  sweet,  sympathising  look 
and  smile,  "  and  I  hope  my  Eosie  will  prove  to 
you  the  sweet  and  lovable  daughter  that  she 
has  always  been  to  me." 

Just  at  that  moment  the  other  ladies  joined 
them,  and  the  four  entered  into  a  lively  con- 
versation, talking  of  Eiverside  and  the  im- 
provements needed  there,  what  a  lovely  home  it 
would  make  for  the  Crolys,  how  pleasant  it 
would  be  to  have  them  so  near,  and  how  de- 


224  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

lightful  for  Eosie  that  thus  she  would  escape 
the  dreaded  separation  from  her  mother. 

'^  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Croly,  "  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  glad  I  was  to  learn  of  this  beautiful  place, 
so  near  to  Ion,  for  sale;  for  I  felt  badly  over  the 
thought  that  we  were  robbing  Mrs.  Travilla  of 
the  companionship  of  so  sweet  a  daughter.  Be- 
sides I  am  anxious  to  remain  in  this  neighbour- 
hood, that  I  may  continue  under  the  care  of 
Dr.  Conly;  for  he  has  helped  me  more  than  any 
other  physician  I  ever  tried." 

That  remark  seemed  gratifying  to  all  three 
of  her  listeners,  and  Mrs.  Dinsmore  said:  "We 
are  glad  to  hear  it;  for  Dr.  Conly  is  dear  to  us 
all,  as  relative,  friend,  and  physician." 

"  He  has  a  lovely  young  wife,"  was  Mrs. 
Croly's  next  remark;  "  and  a  darling  baby 
boy  of  whom  they  are  both  very  proud  and 
fond." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mrs.  Travilla,  "  it  does  one  good 
to  see  how  happy  they  are  in  the  possession  of 
it  and  of  each  other.  Arthur  remained  sin- 
gle for  years;  I  think  to  provide,  or  assist  in 
providing,  for  his  mother,  sisters,  and  younger 
brothers,  but  he  seems  to  be  reaping  his  reward 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  225 

now  in  having  a  wife  who  is  a  great  comfort 
and  blessing  to  him." 

'^  She  is  that,  indeed! "  said  Mrs.  AlHson 
emphatically.  "Ah!  speak  of  angels — here 
they  come!  "  as  Dr.  Conly  and  his  young  wife 
were  seen  approaching,  followed  by  a  nurse  car- 
rying the  infant. 

In  another  minute  they  had  joined  the  group 
on  the  veranda,  where  the  doctor  speedily  en- 
sconced his  wife  in  an  easy-chair,  placed  him- 
self in  another  by  her  side,  and  taking  the  baby 
from  the  nurse,  held  it  up  with  a  look  of 
fatherly  pride,  asking  the  older  ladies,  "  Isn't 
tliis  a  pretty  fine  specimen  of  babyhood,  con- 
sidering that  he  is  my  son  ?  " 

'^Yes,  indeed!"  laughed  Mrs.  Allison,  "it 
is  singular  that  so  poor  a  specimen  of  manhood 
as  my  nephew,  Arthur  Conly,  should  have  so 
fine  a  son.  But  he  may  have  got  his  good  looks 
from  his  mother;  though  I  do  not  perceive  that 
she  has  lost  any." 

"  Now,  Aunt  Adelaide,  after  that  you  will 
do  well  to  take  care  not  to  fall  ill  and  get  into 
the  doctor's  hands,"  laughed  Marian. 

"  My  dear,"  said  the  doctor,  "  can  you  sup- 


226  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

pose  I  object  to  having  my  wife  praised?  or  my 
son,  even  at  his  father's  expense  ?  " 

"  No,  I  know  you  do  not,"  she  returned.  "  I 
verily  believe  you  would  sacrifice  everything  for 
him  except  his  mother." 

"  Did  he  let  you  take  part  in  any  of  the 
games?  "  asked  Adelaide. 

^^Oh,  I  didn't  ask  to!"  said  Marian.  "I 
have  grown  so  lazy  that  I  thought  it  more  fun 
to  watch  the  others." 

"  Captain  Kaymond  and  Violet  seem  to  be 
enjoying  tennis  as  much  as  any  of  the  rest," 
remarked  Mrs.  Dinsmore,  who  was  watching 
the  game  with  keen  interest. 

"  Yes,"  said  Dr.  Conly,  "  all — old  and  young 
— seem  very  happy  and  interested  in  their 
various  sports;  and  I  think  are  gaining  health 
and  strength  from  the  vigorous  exercise  in  this 
pure  air." 

Most  of  the  company  were  engaged  in 
games  of  one  kind  or  another,  but  some  few 
were  wandering  about  in  the  alleys  of  the 
garden  or  wood,  or  sitting  on  the  grass  or  some 
rustic  bench,  chatting  sociably,  as  cousins  and 
connections   might   be   expected   to   do.    Dr. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  227 

Dick  Percival  and  Maud  Dinsmore  were  among 
the  latter.  They  had  had  a  game  of  tennis  and 
were  now  refreshing  themselves  with  a  saunter 
through  the  wood. 

"  I  admire  this  place^ — Woodburn/'  said 
Maud.  "  Captain  Raymond  has,  I  think,  made 
a  sort  of  earthly  paradise  of  it;  though  for  that 
matter  one  might  say  pretty  much  the  same  of 
The  Oaks,  Ion,  and  several  of  the  other  family 
estates." 

"  Yes;  including  those  down  in  Louisiana," 
returned  Dick — "  Viamede,  Magnolia  Hall,  and 
a  few  others.  By  the  way,  you  have  never  been 
down  there,  have  you?" 

"  No,  never;  but  I  am  hoping  that  Cousin 
Elsie  will  invite  me  one  of  these  days." 

"  Suppose  you  don't  wait  for  that,  but  ac- 
cept an  invitation  from  me,"  suggested  Dick, 
giving  her  a  very  lover-like  look  and  smile. 

"From  you?"  she  exclaimed,  her  tone  ex- 
pressing surprise  and  a  little  bewilderment, 
"  are  you  staying  there  ?  " 

"At  Viamede?  No,  not  now.  I  have 
bought  a  plantation  not  very  far  from  there, 
and  am  trying  to  make  it  equal  in  beauty  to 


228  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

Viamede.  It  will,  of  course,  take  some  time  to 
accomplish  that;  but,  to  me,  Torriswood  seems 
even  now  a  very  winso-me  place.  And  if  I  had 
my  cousin  Maud  installed  there,  as  mistress,  I 
should  be  one  of  the  happiest  of  men." 

"  Oh!  you  want  me  to  become  your  house- 
keeper? " 

"  Yes;  housekeeper,  homekeeper,  heartkeeper 
— everything!  Oh,  Maud  darling!  can't  you 
understand  that  I  love  you  and  want  you  for 
my  wife,  my  best,  nearest,  and  dearest  friend, 
my  heart's  idol?  I  love  you  in  a  way  that  I 
never  loved  anyone  else.  Can't  you  love  me 
in  the  same  way — as  something  nearer  and 
dearer  than  a  mere  cousin?  " 

Maud  was  blushing,  trembling — wholly 
taken  by  surprise  and  hardly  knowing  whether 
to  be  glad  or  sorry.  "  Oh,  Dick!  how  can 
you?"  she  stammered.  "We  are  cousins,  )^ou 
know,  and — and  cousins  ought  not  to — to 
marry.  I  have  often  heard  Cousin  Arthur 
say  so." 

"  Not  first  cousins,  nor  second,  but  w^e  are 
neither;  we  are  far  enough  removed  to  be  en- 
tirely safe  so   far  as  that  is  concerned.     So 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  229 

dearest,  you  need  net  hesitate  on  that  account, 
if  you  feel  that  you  can  love  me  well  enough  to 
be  happy  as  my  wife.  Can  you?  If  you  can- 
not now,  I  may  b€  able  to  teach  you  to  by 
clever  courting.  But  I  need  a  wife' — I  do  in- 
deed; and  I  don't  know  how  to  wait.  Don't 
make  me  wait.  Can't  you  give  me  your  love — 
at  least  a  little  of  it?" 

"  Oh,  Dick!  do  you  really  care  so  much  for 
me  and  my  love — really  love  me  in  that  way  ?  " 
she  asked  low  and  tremulously,  her  eyes  full  of 
happy  tears.  "  I  never  thought  of  such  a  thing 
before;  but — but  I  do  believe  I  can — I  do  love 
you  better  than  any  other  of  my  cousins;  better 
than — than  anybody  else  in  the  world." 

"  Ah !  dearest,  you  have  made  me  very,  very 
happy,"  he  said  joyously;  "  happier  than  I 
ever  was  in  my  life  before,  and  I  shall  go  home 
far  richer  than  I  came." 

As  he  spoke  he  drew  her  to  a  rustic  seat  in 
a  nook  so  concealed  by  the  trees  and  shrubbery 
and  the  winding  of  the  path  that  they  were  en- 
tirely hidden  from  view,  and,  putting  an  arm 
about  her  he  held  her  close  with  silent  caresses 
that  seemed  very  sweet  to  her;  for  she  had  been 


230  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

an  orphan  for  3^ears,  and  often  hungry  for  love 
greater  than  that  of  brother  or  sister. 

"  Maud,  dear/'  he  said  presently,  "  we  have 
given  ourselves  to  each  other,  and  why  should 
we  delay  the  final  step?  I  do  not  want  to  go 
back  to  my  home  alone;  will  you  not  go  with 
me?     It  would  make  me  the  happiest  of  men." 

*^  But' — but  you  are  going  very  soon,  I  under- 
stood— in  a  few  days." 

"  Yes;  it  would  hardly  do  for  me  to  wait 
longer  than  that;  but  what  is  the  use  of  wait- 
ing? We  know  each  other  now  as  thoroughly 
as  we  ever  can  till  we  live  together  as  man  and 
wife." 

"  But  I  should  have  no  time  to  prepare  my 
wardrobe " 

^^  It  is  good  enough,  and  can  be  easily  added 
to  when  you  are  Mrs.  Percival,"  he  said  with  a 
low,  gleeful  laugh.  "  I  am  ready  to  take  you, 
my  darling,  if  you  were  without  a  single  change 
of  raiment.  I  do  not  think  you  know  it, 
dearest,  but  I  am  no  longer  the  poor  relation 
I  used  to  be.  I  have  had  a  large  practise, 
worked  hard,  and  made  some  very  fortunate 
investments^  so  that  I  can  truly  say  that  I  am 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  231 

a  fairly  wealthy  man.  Ah,  do  give  yourself 
into  my  keeping  at  once.  I  am  h&artily  tired 
of  my  lonely  bachelor  life,  and  it  will  be  great 
joy  to  me  if  I  can  go  back,  not  to  it,  but  to  that 
of  a  happy  married  man.  IIow  a  dear  little 
wife — such  as  my  cousin  Maud  would  make — 
would  brighten  and  make  cheery  that  lonely 
home.  Can  you  find  it  in  your  heart  to  refuse 
me  the  favour  I  ask,  sweet  one  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  like  to  refuse  you  anything,  dear 
Dick,"  she  returned;  "but  it  is  all  so  sudden 
and  unexpected;  do  let  me  have  a  little  time 
to  think  it  over  and — and  consult  my  friends 
and  yours." 

"Ah,  well!  I  will  try  to  wait  patiently,"  he 
sighed;  "  wait,  hoping  you  will  grant  my  re- 
quest." 

"  Oh,  Dick,  dear  Dick!  I  really  do  feel  like 
doing  anything  in  the  world  that  I  can  to  make 
you  happy.  I  will  do-  whatever  you  wish,  no 
matter  what  other  people  may  say.  Only,"  she 
added,  as  if  with  sudden  recollection,  "  I  sup- 
pose we  must  ask  Uncle  Dinsmore's  consent." 

"  Yes;  but  I  have  no  fear  that  it  will  be  with- 
held.    He  and  I  are  no  strangers  to  each  other; 


232  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

he  is  my  uncle,  too,  you  know,  and  was  my 
guardian  while  I  was  young  enough  to  need 
one.  I  think  he  will  be  pleased  that  we  are 
going  into  partnership, — you  and  I, — and  will 
agree  with  me  that  the  sooner  we  begin  the 
better." 

"  Provided  that  allows  me  time  to  get  prop- 
erly ready,"  she  supplemented  with  an  arch 
look  and  smile. 

"  What  preparation  do  you  need  ?  "  he  asked. 
^'  I  am  more  than  willing  to  take  you  just  as 
you  are.  You  look  perfectly  charming  in  that 
dress,  and,  for  a  wedding  dress,  the  one  you 
wore  as  bridesmaid  to  Cousin  Rosie  seems  to 
me  entirely  suitable.  Indeed,  my  darling,  you 
look  bewitchingly  pretty  in  any  and  every  thing 
you  put  on." 

^^  Oh,  you  flatterer!  "  she  laughed.  "  I  can't 
expect  other  people  to  see  with  your  eyes;  but, 
after  all,  the  principal  thing  is  to  please  you. 
That  will  be  my  business  for  the  rest  of  my 
life,  I  suppose,"  she  added,  giving  him  a  look  of 
ardent  affection. 

"  And  mine  to  please  you,  dearest.  Shall  we 
not  follow  Rosie's  good  example  in  making  no 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  233 

secret  of  our  engagement;  at  least  so  far  as  our 
own  people  here  assembled  are  concerned? 
Will  you  let  me  take  you  back  to  the  house  now 
and  introduce  you  there  as  my  promised  wife?  " 

"  Do  just  as  you  please  about  it.  Cousin 
Dick,"  she  said.  "  You  are  older  and  wiser 
than  I." 

"  I  certainly  am  older,"  he  said  laughingly  as 
they  rose,  and  he  gave  her  his  arm;  "  but  if  T 
am  wiser  in  some  respects,  you  doubtless  are  in 
some  others.  Perhaps  we  will  find  out  all 
about  that  when  we  get  to  housekeeping 
together." 

Mr.  Dinsmore  had  joined  the  group  on  the 
veranda.  Mr.  Lilburn  and  Annis,  Captain 
Eaymond  and  Violet  were  there,  too,  and  some 
others  of  the  married  people,  among  them  Mr. 
Horace  Dinsmore,  Jr.,  of  The  Oaks,  and  his 
wife,  as  Dick  and  Maud  came  up  the  steps  to- 
gether.    He  led  her  directly  to  his  uncle. 

"  We  have  come  for  your  blessing,  sir.  Cousin 
Maud  and  I,"  he  said  in  clear,  distinct  tones. 
"  Will  you  give  her  to  me?  She  is  willing  that 
you  should,  and  I  promise  to  do  all  in  my  power 
to  provide  for  her  and  make  her  happy." 


234  tJLSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Why,  children,  this  is  a  surprise — but  a 
pleasant  one/'  exclaimed  Mr.  Dinsmore. 
"  Yes,  I  give  3^ou  my  blessing  and  wish  you 
many  happy  years  together." 

Then  the  others  crowded  about  with  excla- 
mations of  surprise  and  pleasure,  congratula- 
tions, good  wishes,  and  questions.  "  How  long 
had  they  been  lovers."  "  Did  they  expect  to 
marry  very  soon  ?  " 

"  Yes,  almost  immediately,"  Dick  answered 
to  that  last.  "  What  was  there  to  wait  for? 
They  were  old  enough  to  know  their  own 
minds,  he  was  well  able  to  support  a  wife,  and 
had  a  home  ready  for  her.  It  needed  some  im- 
provements to  be  sure,  but  they  could  be  made 
all  the  better  with  Maud  there  to  give  her 
opinion  and  advice." 

"  But  she  must  have  time  to  prepare  her 
trousseau,"  said  young  Mrs.  Dinsmore. 

"  I  have  just  been  coaxing  her  out  of  that 
notion,"  laughed  Dick,  regarding  his  promised 
wife  vv^ith  admiring  eyes.  "  I  want  her,  and 
the  wedding  finery  can  be  attended  to  some- 
what later.  I  don't  think  anything  could  be 
prettier  or  more  becoming  than  the  dress  she 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  235 

wore  at  Cousin  Rosie's  wedding,  and  why  can't 
she  be  married  in  that?  " 

^^  Why,  it  would  do,  I  suppose!"  exclaimed 
Mrs.  Dinsmore.  "  It  is  very  pretty  and  becom- 
ing, and,  with  a  bridal  veil  added,  would  make 
a  suitable  and  handsome  wedding  dress." 

"  A  wedding  dress?  Who  is  going  to  be  mar- 
ried now?"  cried  a  girlish  voice,  and  Sydney 
and  Walter  were  seen  coming  up  the  steps.  All 
turned  at  the  sound  of  her  voice,  and  Dick 
answered : 

"  Your  sister  and  I,  Cousin  Syd.  Are  you 
willing  to  take  me  for  a  brother  ?  " 

"  You! "  she  exclaimed,  "you.  Cousin  Dick? 
Why,  I  never  dreamed  of  such  a  thing!  But 
I  have  no  objection;  no,  not  the  least  in  the 
world — except  that  you'll  be  taking  my  sister 
away  from  me;  I  don't  like  that  at  all." 

"  No,  Coz,  that  is  altogether  a  mistake  ' 
Dick  hastened  to  say.  "  I  don't  want  to  sepa  - 
rate  you  and  Maud,  and  you  have  only  to  come 
along  with  us  to  escape  that.  You  will  find 
plenty  of  room  and  a  warm  welcome  at  Torris- 
wood." 

"  Thaiik  you,"  she  said;  "  but  it's  so  sudden 


236  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

I  can't  realise  it  at  all  yet.  When  did  you 
make  up  yonr  minds  to  get  married?  " 

"  Half  an  hour  ago,  perhaps;  I  forgot  to  look 
at  my  watch  to  take  exact  note  of  the  time." 

^^  Oh !  is  that  the  way  you  do  when  you  are 
taking  note  of  a  patient's  pulse,  or  the  time  for 
administering  a  dose  of  medicine?" 

But  Dick  was  saved  the  trouble  of  replying, 
as  relatives,  older  and  younger,  came  crowding 
up  to  learn  what  was  going  on. 

Chester  and  Frank  were  as  much  surprised  as 
Sydney  had  been,  but  by  no  means  displeased. 
They  liked  Dick  as  a  cousin  and  had  no  ob- 
jection to  accepting  him  as  a  brother-in-law. 
The  newly  affianced  had  no  frowns  or  objections 
to  meet;  everybody  seemed  pleased  and  inter- 
ested, and  the  only  queries  were  as  to  when 
and  where  the  marriage  should  take  place. 

"  It  should  be  at  The  Oaks,  of  course,"  said 
young  Mr.  Dinsmore.  "  That  is  her  home,  and 
has  been  for  years." 

"And  it  was  there  mamma  was  married," 
said  Violet,  "  and  Maud  might  stand  in  the 
very  same  place." 

"  Yes,  I  should  be  glad  to  have  her  do  so," 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  237 

said  Mrs.  Tra villa;  "  and  she  and  Dick  need  ask 
nothing  more  than  that  their  marriage  may 
prove  as  happy  a  one  as  mine." 

^'  Yes,  Cousin  Elsie,  I  agree  with  you  in  that/' 
said  Maud.  "  I  will  be  married  at  The  Oaks,  if 
Dick  is  satisfied  to  have  it  so." 

"  Entirely,"  he  said;  "  and  now  it  remains 
only  to  fix  upon  the  day  and  hour." 

That  question  seemed  more  difficult  to  settle 
than  the  other;  but  Dick  finally  had  his  way, 
and  the  morning  of  the  day  on  wdiich  he  was 
to  start  for  the  far  South  was  fixed  upon  as 
the  time  for  the  ceremony.  The  other  rela- 
tives from  a  distance  would  delay  their  depart- 
ure long  enough  to  be  present,  the  older  Mr. 
Cyril  Keith  was  chosen  as  the  officiating 
minister,  and  everyone  seemed  satisfied  with  all 
the  arrangements. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

It  had  been  a  very  enjoyable,  but  an  excit- 
ing day;  the  httle  ones  were  weary  with  their 
sports,  and  all  the  guests,  except  those  who 
were  making  Woodburn  their  temporary  home, 
departed  shortly  after  an  early  tea,  and  directly 
after  the  evening  service  of  prayer  and  praise 
the  ladies  of  the  family  retired  to  their  rooms. 
At  length  Captains  Raymond  and  Keith  found 
themselves  alone  together  upon  the  veranda. 

"  Raymond,^'  said  the  younger  man,  breaking 
a  pause  in  their  talk,  "  I  have  a  great  favour  to 
ask  of  3^ou." 

"Ah!  what  is  it,  Keith?  Surely  you  do  not 
need  to  be  told  that  it  would  give  me  pleasure 
to  do  you  any  favour  in  my  power." 

"  Ah,  I  fear  you  hardly  realise  how  much  you 
are  promising.  Do  you  remember  the  talk  we 
had  some  years  ago  at  West  Point?" 

"  Yes;  but  do  you  remember  that  the  subject 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  239 

was  not  to  be  referred  to — at  least  the  question 
you  asked  not  to  be  repeated — for  six  years, 
and  that  it  is  now  only  five  ?  " 

^^  Yes;  but  one  year  cannot  make  much  differ- 
ence, and  it  is  highly  probable  that  I  may  not 
be  able  to  get  here  next  year.  Am  I  asking 
too  much  in  begging  you  to  let  me  speak  now — 
before  T  go  ?  Understand  I  am  not  asking  leave 
to  take  her — your  beautiful,  charming  daughter 
— away  from  you  now,  but  only  to  tell  the  story 
of  my  love;  for  it  has  come  to  that,  that  I  am 
deeply  in  love  with  her;  only  to  tell  the  story 
and  try  to  win  a  return  of  my  affection  and  a 
promise  that,  at  some  future  day,  I  may  claim 
her  for  my  own." 

"  I  would  rather  not,  Keith;  she  is  only  a 
child,"  Captain  Raymond  replied  in  moved 
tones.  "  But  since  you  are  so  urgent,  and  are 
so  old  and  valued  a  friend,  I  don't  like  to  re- 
fuse you.  You  may  speak  to  her;  but  with  the 
clear  understanding,  remember,  that  I  will  on 
no  account  allow  her  to  marry  for  some  time  to 
come;  I  do  not  want  to  allow  it  before  she  is 
twenty-four  or  five." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Keith  heartily;  "  that  will 


240  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

be  a  long  time  to  wait,  but  she  is  well  worth 
waiting  for.  But  do  you  think  I  have  any 
reason  to  hope  to  win  her — that  she  likes  me  in 
the  very  least?" 

"  I  am  certain  she  has  no  dislike  to  you;  that 
she  feels  kindly  toward  you  as  a  relative  and 
friend  of  the  family;  but  I  tell  you  candidly 
that  I  am  well-nigh  convinced  that  she  has 
never  thought  of  looking  upon  you  as  a  lover; 
and  it  is  a  great  happiness  to  me  to  be  able  to 
believe  that  she  still  loves  her  father  better 
than  any  other  man  living." 

"Still  it  is  possible  you  may  be  mistaken/' 
Keith  rejoined  after  a  moment's  discouraged 
silence,  "  and  since  I  have  your  permission,  I 
shall  try  what  clever  courting  will  do  for 
me." 

A  momentary  silence  followed,  broken  by 
Captain  Raymond.  "  I  fear  I  am  a  foolish, 
fond  father,  Keith.  I  have  a  very  strong 
friendship  for  you,  and  there  is  no  man  to  whom 
I  would  sooner  trust  my  daughter's  happiness, 
but  yet  I  cannot  wish  you  success  in  winning 
her;  because,  being  in  the  army,  )^ou  would 
necessarily  take  her  to   a   distance  from  her 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  241 

home  and  me.  But,  as  I  liave  said,  you  may 
try,  though  with  the  full  understanding  that 
not  for  some  years  to  come  will  I  resign  my 
custody  of  her.  She  is  my  own  dear  child,  and, 
in  my  esteem,  still  much  too  young  to  leave  my 
fostering  care  and  assume  the  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  wifehood  and  motherhood." 

"  I  don't  blame  you,  Raymond,  and  shall  not 
try  to  persuade  her  to  go  against  her  father's 
wishes  in  regard  to  the  time  of  assuming  the 
cares  and  duties  you  speak  of,"  said  Keith, 
heaving  an  involuntary  sigh  at  thought  of  the 
years  of  bachelorhood  still  evidently  in  store  for 
him.  "I  only  wish  I  were  sure  of  her  even 
after  serving  seven  years,  as  Jacob  did  for 
Eachel." 

"  Well,  I  shall  not  cheat  you  as  Laban  did 
poor  Jacob,"  returned  Captain  Raymond  pleas- 
antly. "  By  the  way.  Cousins  Dick  and  Maud 
made  quick  work  of  their  courting,  and  the 
marriage  is  to  follow  very  speedily.  In  most 
cases  such  speedy  work  would  be  risky  enough, 
but  they  know  all  about  ench  other — at  least 
so  far  as  a  couple  may  before  the  knot  is  tied 
which  makes  them  one  flesh.     I  think  very 


242  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

highly  of  both^  and  hope  it  is  going  to  be  a  most 
happy  marriage." 

"  I  hope  it  may,  indeed/'  said  Keith.  ^'  Maud 
will  be  hurried  with  her  preparations;  more  so 
than  most  ladies  would  like,  I  presume." 

"  Yes;  but  really  it  will  be  just  as  well,  I 
think,  under  all  the  circumstances.  To-mor- 
row we  are  all  to  spend  one  half  the  day  at 
Eoselands,  the  other  at  Pine  Grove;  the  next 
day  we  go  to  Beechwood;  then  Thursday  we 
are  to  have  the  wedding  at  The  Oaks,  and  that 
night,  or  the  next  morning,  most  of  the  friends 
from  a  distance  contemplate  starting  for  their 
homes." 

"  Yes,  I  among  the  rest,"  said  Keith. 

'^  I  need  hardly  say,  for  surely  you  cannot 
doubt  it,  that  I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  re- 
main longer  with  us  if  Uncle  Sam  would  per- 
mit it,"  said  Captain  Kaymond  with  cordial 
hospitality. 

"  Thank  you,"  returned  Keith,  "  but  that  is 
more  than  I  could  expect  even  were  there  time 
to  ask  it,  which  there  is  not."  Then,  rising, 
'^  It  strikes  me  that  it  is  high  time  to  be  mak- 
ing ready  for  bed.     Good-night,  Eaymond,  my 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  243 

good  friend;  sweet  sleep  and  pleasant  dreams  to 
you/^  and,  with  the  last  word,  he  held  out  his 
hand. 

Captain  Raymond  grasped  it  heartily,  saying, 
"  Good-night,  Keith;  I  wish  you  the  same.  May 
He  who  never  slumbers  nor  sleeps  have  us  all 
in  his  kind  care  and  keeping." 

In  the  principal  event  of  the  past  day — the 
engagement  of  Dick  Percival  and  Maud  Dins- 
more — and  the  talk  of  other  days  and  events 
which  ensued,  Mrs.  Elsie  Travilla's  thoughts 
had  been  carried  back  to  the  happy  time  of  her 
own  betrothal  and  marriage  to  the  one  whom 
she  had  so  loved  as  friend,  lover,  and  husband. 
She  seemed  to  see  him  again  as  he  was  then,  to 
hear  his  low  breathed  words  of  tenderest  aifec- 
tion,  and  her  tears  fell  fast  at  the  thought  that 
never  again  in  this  life  should  their  sweet  music 
fall  upon  her  ear. 

But  well  she  knew  that  the  separation  was 
only  temporary;  that  they  should  meet  again  in 
the  better  land,  where  sickness,  sorrow,  and 
death  can  never  enter,  meet  never  more  to 
part. 

She  was  alone  in  her  boudoir,  and,  wiping 


244  ELStE  AT  HOME. 

away  her  tears,  she  knelt  down  in  prayer,  ask- 
ing for  strength  to  hear  patiently  and  suhmis- 
sively  the  loss  that  was  at  times  so  grievous,  and 
craving  God's  hlessing  upon  the  young  relatives 
so  soon  to  take  upon  them  the  marriage  vows. 
Nor  did  she  forget  her  own  daughter  so  recently 
united  to  the  man  of  her  choice,  or  any  other  of 
her  dear  ones.  Her  heart  swelled  with  joy  and 
gratitude  as  she  thought  of  them  all,  healthy, 
happy,  and  in  comfortable  circumstances;  her 
dear  old  father  and  his  lovely  wife  still  spared 
to  her,  and  the  dear  grandchildren  who  seemed 
to  renew  to  her  the  youthful  days  of  her  own 
children,  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  these. 

Her  thoughts  were  still  full  of  motherly  and 
grandmotherly  cares  and  joys  as  she  laid  her 
head  upon  her  pillow  and  passed  into  the  land 
of  dreams. 

When  she  awoke  again  it  was  to  find  the  sun 
shining  and  the  air  full  of  the  breath  of  flowers 
and  the  morning  songs  of  the  little  birds  in  the 
tree  tops  just  beyond  her  windows.  She  rose 
and  knelt  beside  her  bed,  while  her  heart  sent 
up  its  song  of  gratitude  and  praise,  its  petitions 
for  grace  and  strength  according  to  her  day, 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  245 

asking  the  same  for  her  dear  ones  also,  and  that 
she  and  they  might  be  kept  from  accident,  folly, 
and  sin. 

As  she  made  her  toilet  her  thoughts  again  re- 
ferred to  Maud  and  her  present  needs,  which 
could  not  well  be  supplied  for  lack  of  time. 

"  Can  I  not  help  the  dear  girl  in  some  way  ?  ' ' 
she  asked  herself. 

Then  a  sudden  thought  came  to  her  and  she 
hastened  to  a  large  closet,  unlocked  a  trunk 
standing  there,  and  took  from  it  a  package  care- 
fully wrapped  in  a  large  towel.  Carrying  it  to 
a  sofa  in  her  boudoir  she  unpinned  it  and 
brought  to  light  a  dress  of  richest  white  satin, 
having  an  overskirt  of  point  lace,  and,  beside  it, 
a  veil  of  the  same  costly  material. 

"  As  beautiful  as  ever,"  she  sighed  softly  to 
herself.  "  An  1  the  dress  would,  I  think,  fit 
Maud,  with  little  or  no  alteration.  It  would 
be  something  of  a  trial  to  part  with  them  per- 
manently, but  surely  I  can  spare  them  to  Maud 
for  a  few  hours.  It  would  give  her  pleasure, 
for  she  would  look  lovely  in  them,  and  every 
woman  wants  to  look  her  very  best  at  her 
bridal." 


246  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

But  the  breakfast  bell  was  ringing,  and^  put- 
ting them  carefully  back  in  the  trunk  and  re- 
locking  it_,  she  hastened  doAvn  to  the  dining 
room. 

There  were  a  number  of  guests  in  the  house, 
among  them  the  Emburys  of  Magnolia  Hall, 
and,  naturally,  the  talk  at  the  table  ran  princi- 
pally upon  the  approaching  marriage  of  Molly's 
brother,  Dr.  Percival. 

"  I  am  much  pleased,"  she  said;  "  Maud  will 
make  a  dear  little  sister  for  me,  and  I  hope  will 
find  me  a  good  and  kind  one  to  her.  And  if 
Sydney  goes  along  she  will  be  about  as  good 
as  another.  Perhaps  Bob  and  she  will  get  up 
another  match,  and  then  she  will  be  my  sister. 
I  wish  Bob  could  have  come  along  with  the  rest 
of  us." 

"  Yes,  I  wish  he  could,"  said  ]Mrs.  Travilla. 
'^'He  must  take  his  turn  at  another  time,  leav- 
ing Dick  to  look  after  the  patients." 

"  I  think  Maud  feels  a  trifle  disappointed  that 
she  has  no  time  to  get  up  a  grand  wedding 
dress,"  Molly  ran  on,  "but  the  one  she  wore 
as  Rosie's  bridesmaid  is  very  pretty  and  becom- 
ing.    Still  it  is  not  white;  and  I  heard  her  say 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  247 

that  she  had  always  been  determined  to  be  mar- 
ried in  white,  if  she  married  at  all." 

"  Oh,  well,"  said  Mr.  Embury,  "  the  getting 
married  is  the  chief  thing,  and,  after  it  is  all 
over,  it  won't  matter  much  whether  it  was  done 
in  w^hite  or  some  other  colour.  I  presume 
most  folks  w^ould  think  it  better  to  be  married 
even  in  black  than  not  at  all." 

"  I  think  that  depends  very  much  upon  what 
sort  of  husband  one  gets,"  laughed  Zoe.  "I 
got  married  without  any  bridal  finery;  but  it 
was  a  very  fortunate  thing  for  me  after  all," 
giving  her  husband  a  proudly  affectionate 
glance. 

"  Yes,"  he  said  with  a  smile,  "  and  I  wouldn't 
exchange  the  wife  I  got  in  that  way  for  the 
most  exquisitely  attired  bride  in  Christendom." 

Mrs.  Travilla  kept  her  own  counsel  in  re- 
gard to  her  plans  for  Maud's  relief,  until  break- 
fast and  family  worship  were  over;  but  then 
invited  Molly  to  her  boudoir,  brought  out  the 
dress  and  veil  she  had  been  looking  at,  and  dis- 
closed her  plan  for  Maud. 

Molly  was  delighted. 

"  Oh,  cousin,  how  good  in  you! "  she  crjed. 


248  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"I  think  Maud  will  be  wild  with  joy  to  be  so 
nicely  brought  out  of  her  difficulty.  For  the 
dress  is  splendid,  and,  as  you  say,  hardly  out  of 
the  present  fashion  in  its  make-up.  And  the 
veil  is  just  too  lovely  for  anything!  Fully  as 
handsome  as  Kosie's  was,  and  I  thought  it  the 
very  handsomest  I  had  ever  seen.'^ 

^'  Then  I  shall  telephone  at  once  to  The 
Oaks,"  Mrs.  Travilla  said,  and,  passing  out  and 
down  to  the  hall  below,  she  did  so.  Calling  for 
Maud,  she  asked  her  to  come  over  to  Ion  at 
once  as  she  wished  to  consult  her  on  an  im- 
portant matter  requiring  prompt  decision;  but 
she  would  not  detain  her  long. 

Much  wondering,  Maud  replied  that  she 
would  be  there  in  a  few  minutes;  the  carriage 
being  at  the  door,  and  Mr.  Dinsmore  offering 
to  drive  her  over  immediately. 

Mrs.  Travilla  gave  orders  to  a  servant  that  on 
Miss  Dinsmore's  arrival  she  should  be  brought 
directly  to  her  boudoir;  Mr.  Dinsmore  might 
come  also,  if  he  wished;  and  presently  both 
appeared. 

They  were  warmly  greeted  by  Mrs.  Travilla 
and  Mrs.  Embury,  who  was  still  with  her. 


1]L8IE  AT  HOME.  249 

"  I  have  something  to  show  you,  Maud,  and 
an  offer  to  make,"  Elsie  said  with  a  smile,  lead- 
ing the  young  girl  forward  and  pointing  to  the 
dress  and  veil  disposed  about  an  easy-chair  in 
a  way  to  exhibit  them  in  all  their  beauty. 

"  Oh!  "  cried  Maud,  "  how  lovely!  how  lovely! 
I  never  saw  them  before.  Whose  were  they? 
Where  did  they  come  from.  Cousin  Elsie?  " 

"  I  wore  them  when — when  I  was  married," 
Elsie  answered  in  low,  sad  tones;  "  they  have 
not  been  used  since,  but  I  will  leflid  them  to 
you,  dear  Maud,  if  you  would  like  to  use  them 
for  your  bridal." 

"  Oh,  Cousin  Elsie!  wouldn't  I?  How  good, 
how  good  in  you!  I  am  too  hurried  to  buy  any- 
thing, and  that  lace  is  far  beyond  my  purse  if 
I  had  any  amount  of  time." 

"  Then  I  am  glad  I  thought  of  offering  you 
the  use  of  these.  But  now  I  think  it  would  be 
well  for  you  to  try  on  the  dress  and  see  what — 
if  any — alteration  it  needs.  We  will  go  into 
my  dressing  room,  and  I  will  be  your  tire- 
woman," she  added,  gathering  up  the  dress  as 
she  spoke,  while  Mrs.  Embury  took  the  veil. 

The  three  passed  into  the  dressing  room, 


250  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

leaving  Mr.  Dinsmore  sole  occupant  of  the 
boudoir^  he  taking  up  a  book  to  amuse  himself 
with  while  they  were  gone. 

Only  a  few  minutes  had  passed  when  they 
returned;,  Maud  looking  very  bridelike  in  the 
dainty  satin  and  the  veil. 

"  Bravo,  cousin!  You  look  every  inch  a 
bride,  and  a  lovely  one  at  that!  "  he  exclaimed. 
"  I  advise  you  by  all  means  to  accept  my  sister's 
offer.     You  could  not  do  better.'' 

"  I  could  hardly  w^ant  to  do  better/'  said 
Maud.  "  Yes,  Cousin  Elsie,  I  accept  it  with  a 
world  of  thanks.  Oh,  I  never  dreamed  of  hav- 
ing anything  so  lovely  to  wear  for  my  bridal 
dress!  And  I  need  not  care  that  the  finery 
does  not  really  belong  to  me,  for  you  know  the 

old  saying: 

"  '  Something  borrowed, 
SomethiDg  blue, 
Something  old  and 
Something  uew.' 

I'll  borrow  these,  put  a  bow  of  blue  ribbon  on 
my  under  waist,  and — ah!  the  dress  and  this 
lovely  lace,  veil  and  all,  will  be  enough  of  some- 
thing old!  "  she  concluded  with  a  light,  gleeful 
laugh. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  251 

"Dear  child,  don't  be  superstitious!"  Mrs. 
Tra villa  said  with  a  rather  sad  sort  of  smile, 
putting  an  ann  round  her  and  giving  her  a 
tender  kiss.  "  I  hope  and  trust  you  will  be  very 
happy  with  dear  Dick,  for  he  is  a  noble  fellow; 
but  it  will  depend  more  upon  yourself — upon 
your  being  a  true,  good,  and  loving  wife — than 
on  what  you  wear  when  you  give  yourself  to 
him,  or  at  any  other  time." 

"  Yes,  I  know,  dear  cousin,"  said  Maud,  re- 
turning the  caress;  "  that  was  only  my  jest.  I 
wouldn't  be  afraid  to  marry  Dick  in  any  kind 
of  dress,  or  willing  to  marry  anybody  else  in 
any  kind  of  one.  I  didn't  know  that  I  was  in 
love  with  him  till  he  proposed,  but  now  I  feel 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  love  anybody 
else;  almost  impossible  to  live  without  him  and 
his  love." 

"  I  am  glad,  very  glad  to  hear  it,"  Elsie  said, 
"  and  I  hope  and  expect  that  you  will  make  a 
very  happy  couple — sharing  each  other's  cares, 
toils,  and  troubles,  as  well  as  the  joys  and  bless- 
ings of  life." 

"  Yes,  cousin  dear;  if  we  don't  it  shall  not  be 
my  fault,"  Maud  returned  with  emotion.     "  I 


252  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

do  really  want  to  be  everything  to  Dick  and 
make  his  life  as  bright  and  as  happy  as  I  can; 
and  I  know  that  is  just  how  he  feels  toward  me^ 
dear  fellow!  " 

"That's  right,  Maud/'  said  Mr.  Dinsmore 
heartily,  "  and  I  think  you  and  Dick  have  every 
prospect  of  making  a  happy  couple.  Well/' 
rising  as  he  spoke,  "  I  am  going  down  to  have 
a  little  chat  with  father  and  mother,  then  must 
hasten  home  to  attend  to  some  matters  about 
work  to  be  done  on  the  plantation.  I  suppose 
you  and  your  package  will  be  ready  to  be  taken 
along,  Maud?" 

"  Yes;  if  Cousin  Elsie  is  willing  to  trust  the 
handsome  thing  in  my  care  now/'  Maud  replied, 
looking  inquiringly  at  Mrs.  Travilla. 

"  Quite  willing;  for  I  know  you  will  be  care- 
ful of  them,"  Mrs.  Travilla  replied  with  her 
own  sweet  smile.  "  I  will  fold  them  up  and 
get  the  package  ready  while  you  resume  the 
dress  in  which  you  came,"  she  added  as  her 
brother  left  the  room. 

"  Maud,"  said  Mrs.  Embury,  "  if  I  were  you 
I  should  keep  this  thing  a  secret  from  every- 
body but  your  sister  and  Cousin  Sue,  until  your 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  253 

appearance  in  all  the  glory  of  this  satin  and 
lace  at  the  time  of  the  marriage  ceremony. 
Think  of  the  surprise  and  pleasure  your  unex- 
pected grandeur  in  it  will  cause." 

"  But  what  if  the  stunning  surprise  should 
have  a  bad  effect  upon  somebody/'  laughed 
Maud.  "I  think  I'll  risk  it,  however.  Oh, 
Cousin  Elsie!  I  do  not  know  how  to  thank  you 
for  this  great  kindness! "  she  added  with  tears 
of  joy  and  gratitude  in  her  eyes. 

"  Then  don't  try,  Maud,  dear,"  Mrs.  Travilla 
returned  with  a  bright,  sweet  look  into  the 
young  girl's  face.  "  The  happiness  I  can  see 
that  it  gives  you  is  even  a  greater  reward  than 
the  trifling  Idndness  deserves.  And  how  for- 
tunate it  is  that  the  dress  fits  so  perfectly — as  if 
it  had  just  been  made  for  you." 

A  few  moments  later  Maud  and  Mr.  Dins- 
more  were  on  their  way  back  to  The  Oaks. 
They  found  Mrs.  Sue  Dinsmore  and  Sydney  on 
the  veranda,  waiting  in  eager  curiosity  to  learn 
on  what  business  Maud  had  been  wanted  at 
Ion. 

^^  To  receive  and  bring  home  this  package," 
returned  Maud  gaily  to  their  excited  question- 


254  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

ing.  "  Come  with  me  up  to  my  room^,  and  I 
will  display  to  you  its  contents.  You  come, 
too.  Cousin  Horace,  that  you  may  witness  their 
surprise  and  dismay.  There,  don't  say  you 
haven't  time,  for  it  needn't  take  you  five 
minutes." 

^^  Well,  perhaps  I  can  spare  that  many,"  he 
returned  laughingly,  following  the  three  as  they 
tripped  up  the  stairway. 

Maud  made  quick  work  of  opening  the 
package  and  displaying  its  contents  to  their 
view. 

"Oh,  oh,  how  beautiful!  how  lovely!  per- 
fectly exquisite!  "  were  the  excited  exclamations 
of  Mrs.  Dinsmore  and  Sydney.  "  Whose  are 
they?  where  did  they  come  from?" 

"  They  are  Cousin  Elsie's  wedding  dress  and 
veil,"  replied  Maud.  "  And  she  lends  them  to 
me  to  he  married  in.  But  it  is  to  be  a  secret. 
Nobody  is  to  know  anything  about  it  till  I  ap- 
pear with  them  on — when  I  am  to  add  the 
name  of  Percival  to  those  I  already  bear,"  she 
concluded  in  a  tone  that  seemed  to  indicate  that 
she  was  jesting  to  hide  an  inclination  to  in- 
dulge in  tears. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  265 

''  I  highly  approve,"  said  Mrs.  Dinsmore. 
''  The  things — dress  and  veil — are  beautiful, 
and  will  make  our  bride  look  bewitchingly 
lovely;  I  strongly  approve,  too,  of  the  plan  of 
keeping  the  matter  a  close  secret  until  the  bride 
enters  the  room  on  the  bridegroom's  arm.  But 
does  the  dress  fit  you,  Maud?" 

"  Perfectly;  as  if  it  had  just  been  made  for 
me ! "  exclaimed  Maud  in  tones  of  delight.  "  Oh, 
I  do  feel  so  glad,  and  so  thankful  to  dear  Cousin 
Elsie!  I  fear  it  must  be  somewhat  trying  to  her 
feelings  to  see  me  wear  it;  but  she  is  not  one  to 
hesitate  for  that  when  she  has  an  opportunity 
to  do  a  kindness.  She  is  a  good  Christian  if 
ever  there  was  one." 

"Indeed  she  is!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Dinsmore 
and  Sydney  in  a  breath. 

Mr.  Dinsmore  had  already  left  the  room. 

"  But  now,  girls,  we  must  bestir  ourselves  and 
make  ready  for  the  day,"  added  Mrs.  Dinsmore. 
"  You  know  the  morning  is  to  be  spent  by  the 
wliole  connection  at  Pinegrove,  and  the  after- 
noon at  Eoselands.  It  won't  take  you  long  to 
get  ready,  will  it?  " 

"  No,  only  a  few  minutes,"  both  answered. 


256  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

and  she  hurried  away  to  complete  her  own 
preparations. 

"  Oh,  Maud,  dear!  "  said  Sydney,  taking  up 
the  bridal  veil  and  gazing  admiringly  upon  it, 
"  I  am  so  glad  Cousin  Elsie  has  lent  you  this 
bit  of  loveliness,  and  that  beautiful  dress  to  be 
married  in.  You  will  look  Just  bewitching; 
and  how  proud  Dick  will  be  of  his  bride.  I 
wish  he  was  here  now  to  see  these  charming 
things.  Do  you  mean  to  tell  him  about  them 
and  show  them  to  him  beforehand  ?  " 

^'  I  don't  know;  I  really  haven't  thought 
about  it  yet,"  Maud  answered.  "  But  we  must 
make  haste,  now,  and  not  keep  Cousin  Horace 
and  Sue  waiting.'^ 


CHAPTEE  XYII. 

At  Woodburn  Captain  Raymond  and  his 
eldest  daughter  had  had  their  usual  early  ramble 
together  about  the  grounds;  then,  coming  in, 
had  found  a  large  mail,  containing  a  number  of 
business  letters  for  him,  awaiting  them. 

'^  I  hope  they  are  such  as  I  can  answei^  for 
you  on  the  typewriter,  papa,"  Lucilla  s^id 
cheerfully. 

"  Yes,"  he  replied;  "  if  you  have  time  and  in- 
chnation  to  do  so." 

"  Always  time  to  work  for  my  father,"  she 
said,  giving  him  a  bright,  sweet  smile,  as  she 
seated  herself  before  the  machine. 

"  Then  we  will  do  it  at  once,"  he  said,  return- 
ing the  smile  as  lie  uncovered  the  machine  and 
put  the  paper  in  place  for  her.  "  ^  Business  be- 
fore pleasure  '  is  a  good  rule,  and  my  dear,  help- 
ful daughter  makes  it  an  easier  one  for  me  to 
follow  than  it  would  be  without  her  assistance." 

357 


258  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  I  am  so  glad  it  does^  papa;  so  glad  I  am  of 
some  use  to  you/'  she  returned,  blushing  with 
pleasure  as  she  spoke. 

"  I  know  3^ou  are,  daughter  dear,  else  I  should 
not  call  upon  3^ou  for  these  services,"  he  said 
heartily;  then,  glancing  over  a  letter  he  had 
just  opened,  he  began  dictating. 

He  had  not  said  anything  to  her  about  the 
talk  he  and  Donald  Keith  had  had  the  night  be- 
fore, nor  did  he  intend  to.  So  sure  of  the 
result  was  he  that  it  did  not  seem  at  all  nec- 
essary, and  he  thought  the  knowledge  of  what 
was  before  her  would  only  cause  her  embarrass- 
ment and  discomfort.  He  did  not  know  what 
opportunity  Keith  might  seize,  and  it  seemed 
better  to  leave  her  in  ignorance  of  his  inten- 
tions. 

"Is  that  all,  father?''  she  asked  presently, 
when  several  letters  had  been  written. 

"  Yes,  daughter,"  he  replied;  "  and  now  we 
can  feel  free  for  the  day.  I  hope  it  wMl  be  a 
pleasant  one  to  you." 

"I  expect  it  to  be,  papa,"  she  returned; 
'^  Pinegrove  is  a  beautiful  place,  and  the  How- 
ards are  delightful  people.     No  relation  to  me, 


iSLStE  AT  BOMiJ.  ^5^ 

but  tolerably  near  cousins  to  Mamma  Vi,  you 
know." 

"  Yes;  Mrs.  Howard  being  half  sister  to  her 
grandfather/'  he  said  with  an  amused  look. 
"  They  can  hardly  be  called  near  relatives^,  but 
are  very  estimable  people,  and  I  think  the  half 
day  may  be  passed  very  pleasantly  with  them 
and  the  visiting  relatives." 

"  I  like  Flora  Howard.  Papa,  don't  you 
think  she  might  make  a  nice  wife  for  Captain 
Keith,  if  only  they  should  take  a  fancy  to  each 
other?" 

"  I  hadn't  thought  of  it.  She  is  rather  young 
— not  much  older  than  my  daughter  Lulu,  I 
judge;  so  had  better  not  be  thinking  of  mar- 
riage for  years  to  come." 

^^  Yes,  sir;  but  a  good  many  girls  do,  you 
know;  girls  that  haven't  such  a  dear,  good 
father  as  mine  to  make  them  feel  that 
they  never  want  to  leave  him  for  anybody 
else." 

"  You  are  sure  you  don't  want  to  leave 
yours?"  he  asked  with  a  searching,  though 
smiling  look  into  her  face. 

"  Oh,  papa,  you  can't  doubt  it,  I  am  sure! " 


'2G0  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

sho  exclaimed,  giving  him  a  look  of  ardent 
affection. 

^^  No,  I  do  not/'  he  returned;  "  I  am  very 
sure — since  you  have  told  me  so  at  least  a  dozen 
times — that  my  dear  eldest  daughter  loves  me 
better  than  she  does  any  other  man  living,  and 
wants  me  to  keep  her  all  my  own  for  years  to 
come." 

'^  Yes,  indeed,  papa,"  she  said  with  a  happy 
laugh,  "  that  is  just  what  I.  want  you  to  do." 

"  Then  we  entirely  agree.  There  is  the 
breakfast  bell,  and  I  hope  my  daughter  feels 
ready  to  obey  its  summons." 

^^  Yes,  sir;  it  is  a  welcome  sound." 

It  was  a  bright  and  cheerful  party  that  pres- 
ently gathered  about  the  table,  and  a  lively  con- 
versation was  carried  on  while  they  partook  of 
the  tempting  viands.  The  new  home  about  to 
be  prepared  for  Rosie,  its  present  condition,  the 
beauty  of  the  situation,  the  grounds,  the  build- 
ing, and  the  improvements  to  be  made  by  altera- 
tions and  additions,  were  themes  dilated  upon 
for  a  time;  then  the  approaching  marriage  of 
Dick  and  Maud  came  under  discussion,  and  the 
questions  were  broached   whether   she   would 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  261 

wear  tlie  dress  she  had  worn  as  Kosie's  brides- 
maid, and  whether  she  would  have  the  same 
attendants. 

''I  hope  she  will/'  little  Elsie  said.  "I'd 
like  to  be  flower  girl  again,  and  my  dress  is  all 
ready,  so  that  it  wouldn't  make  any  trouble  or 
expense." 

"  That  is  very  thoughtful  in  you,  little 
sister,"  laughed  Lucilla. 

"  I  am  really  sorry  there  is  no  time  or  oppor- 
tunity to  buy  presents  for  Maud,"  remarked 
Violet  in  a  regretful  tone. 

"Yes,  it  seems  a  pity,"  said  Captain  Ray- 
mond; "  but  perhaps  they  can  be  sent  on  to 
her  later.  If  people  will  marry  in  haste  they 
will  have  to  take  the  consequences.  I  hope 
that  in  this  case  one  of  them  will  not  be  re- 
penting at  leisure." 

"  I  don't  believe  it  will,"  said  Violet. 
"  They  are  of  the  same  kith  and  kin,  and  know 
pretty  much  all  about  each  other." 

"  Keith,"  said  Captain  Raymond,  "  send  your 
plate  up  again;  I  see  it  is  almost  empty." 

"  Thank  you,  no;  I  want  to  save  some  appe- 
tite for  the  later  breakfast  that  I  am  told  I 


262  ELSIE  AT  IIOMS. 

must  share  with  the  rest  of  you  at  Pinegrove. 
Our  good  friends  there  might  feel  hurt  should 
I  do  it  scant  justice.'^ 

"How  soon  do  we  go,  papa?"  asked  Grace. 

"  As  soon  after  prayers  as  the  ladies  are 
dressed  and  ready." 

"  The  little  girls  and  boys  too,  papa?  "  asked 
Ned  somewhat  anxiously.  ^'  Elsie  and  I  are 
to  go,  aren't  we  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  my  son,  and  I  hope  will  have  a 
very  pleasant  time.  I  am  glad  I  can  trust  you 
to  be  good,  well-behaved  children." 

Donald  Keith  was  on  the  watch  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  tell  to  Lucilla  the  story  of  his  love, 
but  none  offered.  The}^  drove  to  Pinegrove, 
and  after\vard  to  Roselands,  in  the  same  car- 
riage, but  it  had  a  number  of  other  occupants, 
and  the  conversation  was  general.  But,  fortu- 
nately for  Lucilla,  she  had  no  suspicion  of  his 
designs  upon  her,  so  was  entirely  at  her  ease 
with  him. 

The  Pinegrove  party  was  a  success,  every- 
body enjoying  it  fully;  the  very  young  in  play- 
ing games,  the  older  ones  strolling  about  the 
grounds,  chatting,  laughing,  singing. 


ELSIE  AT  UOME.  263 

The  breakfast,  quite  a  grand  affair,  was 
served  about  noon,  and  some  two  hours  after 
it  was  over  they  all  left  the  grove  for  Roselands. 

Little  had  been  said  at  Pinegrove  about  the 
approaching  marriage,  but  it  came  under  dis- 
cussion at  Roselands,  and  to  the  extreme  satis- 
faction of  the  two  little  Elsies  it  was  decided 
that  the}^  should  act  as  flower  girls,  as  they 
had  at  Rosie's  wedding.  The  same  bridesmaids 
and  maid  of  honour  were  chosen  also;  w4th  the 
understanding  that  they  should  all  wear  the 
same  dresses  worn  as  Rosie's  attendants. 

"  And,  of  course,  you  will  wear  yours,  Maud,'^ 
said  Laura  Howard.  "  It  is  lovely  and  very  be- 
coming, and  the  shade  so  delicate  that  I  should 
think  it  would  do  almost,  if  not  quite,  as  well 
as  if  it  were  white." 

"  It  is  very  pretty,  and  as  becoming  as  any  I 
own,"  Maud  said  with  a  slight  smile.  "  I 
haven't  time  to  buy  another,  and,  if  one's  bride- 
groom is  all  right,  it  doesn't  really  matter 
whether  the  wedding  dress  is  perfectly  white 
or  not." 

"  Certainly  not,"  laughed  Dick.  "  I  should 
rather  by  far  marry  the  right  woman  in  a  black 


264  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

calico  than  the  wrong  one  in  the  handsomest 
of  white  satins;  even  with  Brussels  or  point 
lace  on  it  in  abundance." 

"  Well,  then,  I  may  feel  entirely  easy," 
Maud  said,  echoing  his  laugh,  "  for  I  shall  cer- 
tainly be  better  and  more  appropriately  attired 
than  in  a  black  dress,  or  calico  of  any  colour." 

"  Of  course  3^ou  will,"  said  Grace,  "  I  think 
that  dress  of  yours  is  lovely  and  extremely  be- 
coming. On  one  need  be  ashamed  of  such  a 
wedding  dress  as  that." 

"  And  I  am  determined  that  she  shall  have  a 
lovely  wedding,"  said  Mrs.  Sue  Dinsmore;  "  as 
much  like  what  I  have  been  told  Sister  Elsie's 
was  as  possible.  The  house  shall  be  trimmed 
with  abundance  of  flowers,  and  the  bride  and 
groom  shall  stand  in  the  veiy  same  spot  that 
their  predecessors  did;  and  I  dare  say  the  re- 
freshments will  be  pretty  nearly  a  reproduction 
of  what  were  served  that  evening;  as  nearly  as 
I  can  manage  it,  at  all  events." 

"  It  really  won't  matter  if  there  are  some 
added  luxuries,  my  dear,"  her  husband  re- 
marked in  a  jesting  tone,  and  with  a  twinkle  of 
fun  in  his  eve. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  265 

"  N"o,  I  presume  not;  it  will  be  better  to  err  on 
that  side  than  on  the  other/'  she  returned  de- 
murely. "  I  mean,  however,  to  make  up  to 
poor  Maud  for  the  lack  of  a  new  wedding  dress; 
at  least  so  far  as  I  can." 

'^  As  I  do/'  said  Mrs.  Travilla,  smiling  kindly 
upon  the  expectant  bride. 

"  And  it  is  only  the  pressure  of  Dick's  haste 
— the  lack  of  time  for  it — that  keeps  her 
brothers  from  providing  her  with  as  handsome 
a  wedding  outfit  as  could  be  desired/'  remarked 
Chester,  looking  slightly  annoyed  and  hurt. 

"  Yes,  Chester,  we  all  know  that,"  a  chorus  of 
voices  exclaimed,  his  Uncle  Dinsmore  adding: 
*'  And  as  we  are  all  relatives  or  connections, 
it  really  matters  very  little.  Dick  may  be 
thankful — and  I  don't  in  the  least  doubt  that 
he  is — to  get  Maud,  without  considering  how 
she  is  attired,  or  of  what  her  wardrobe 
consists." 

"  I  say  amen  to  that,  uncle,"  smiled  Dick, 
'^  and  shall  only  enjoy  speedily  supplying  any- 
thing lacking  in  her  wardrobe.  I'll  be  glad,  in- 
deed, to  have  the  right." 

"  Very  good  in  you,  Dick;  but  it  isn't  the 


^66  ELSIE  AT  noME\ 

bridegroom's  place  to  supply  the  trousseau/' 
said  Chester,  only  half  mollified.  "  And  there 
is  no  occasion,  seeing  her  brothers  are  able  to 
do  it,  and  willing,  to  say  nothing  of  her  own 
means." 

"  Oh,  Ches,  don't  be  vexed,"  said  Maud. 
"  It  will  all  be  right;  I  have  a  very  good  ward- 
robe, and  don't  mean  to  let  Dick  buy  anything 
for  me  this  long  while." 

At  which  Dick  laughed  meaningly,  as  much 
as  to  say:  "In  regard  to  that  I  shall  do  as  I 
please  or  think  best." 

Chester  was  somewhat  out  of  sorts;  he  did 
not  like  to  have  his  sister  hurried  into  marriage 
without  a  trousseau,  and  he  had  noticed  some- 
thing that  displeased  him  still  more  in  Captain 
Keith's  manner  toward  Lucilla  Eaymond.  It 
v/as  hard,  very  hard,  he  tl  ought,  that  her  father 
would  not  allow  him  to  tell  her  the  story  of 
his  love.  He  would  have  been  still  more  indig- 
nant had  he  known  that  Keith  was  allowed  that 
privilege. 

As  for  Keith,  he  was  looking  out  for  an  op- 
portunity to  avail  himself  of  the  father's  per- 
mission; not  very  hopefully,  but  still  not  in 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  267 

entire  despair;  thinking  that  clever  courting 
might  perhaps  win  her  in  the  end.  And  he 
felt  that  she  was  worth  much  effort  and  long 
waiting  for. 

The  afternoon  passed  quickly  and  the  party 
broke  up  early,  partly  because  of  the  necessary 
preparations  for  to-morrow's  wedding.  The 
Oaks  familv;,  having  the  most  of  that  to  attend 
to,  were  the  first  to  leave,  and  the  others  soon 
followed. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

Ever  since  gaining  her  father's  permission 
to  tell  Liicilla  the  story  of  his  love,  Captain 
Keith  had  been  watching  for  a  favourable  op- 
portunity to  do  so,  but  thus  far  without  avail. 

"Now,"  he  thought,  as  they  drove  on  the 
homeward  way  from  Eoselands  to  Woodburn, 
"  I  must  try  to  get  a  few  moments  alone  with 
her  this  evening.'' 

He  did  not  succeed,  however;  there  were  still 
several  guests  besides  himself,  and  Lucilla 
seemed  to  be  always  in  request  for  conversation, 
or  taking  part  in  some  game.  And  directly 
after  the  evening  sendee  she  slipped  away  to 
her  own  apartments  and  was  seen  no  more  that 
night. 

In  the  morning  it  was  equally  impossible  to 
catch  her  alone  for  even  a  moment,  so  busy  and 
excited  were  all  vdth  regard  to  what  was  to  be 
the  great  event  of  the  day. 

The   ladies   began   their   toilets   soon   after 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  269 

breakfast  and  were  not  seen  again  until  about 
to  enter  the  carriages  which  were  to  carry  them 
to  The  Oaks;  this  time  Keith  had  not  even  the 
pleasure  of  being  in  the  same  vehicle  witli 
Lucilla. 

Then,  arrived  at  their  destination,  the  young 
gilds  vanished  from  his  sight,  going  into  tlie 
dressing  room  appointed  for  their  use  in  rob- 
ing tliemselves  for  the  ceremony. 

Lucilla  and  Grace  were  to  be  bridesmaids, — 
Laura  Howard,  also, — and  Sydney  maid  of 
honour. 

Only  a  few  minutes  before  their  arrival  Dick 
had  been  admitted  to  the  room  where  his  bride 
sat  arrayed  in  her  wedding  attire^ — the  beauti- 
ful dress  and  veil  provided  by  the  kindness  of 
her  Cousin  Elsie. 

"  Oh,  my  darling!  '^  he  exclaimed  in  aston- 
ishment, "  how  lovely  you  are  and  how  beau- 
tifully dressed.  This  is  not  the  dress  you  spoke 
of  wearing, — this  rich  white  satin, — and  the 
veil.     Why,  Rosie's  own  were  not  handsomer!  ^' 

"  No,  I  think  not,"  said  Maud,  smiling  at  his 
pleasure.  "  They  are  dear  Cousin  Elsie's  own 
wedding  garments,  kindly  lent  to  me  because  I 


270  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

had  no  time  to  procure  such  for  myself;  and 
I  was  willing — yes^  very  glad  to  borrow  them, 
because  they  are  so  lovely  and  becoming,  and 
because,  you  know,  it  is  said  to  be  good  luck 
to  have  something  old  to  wear,  as  well  as 
something  new.  I  hope  my  bridegroom  ap- 
proves ?  " 

"  He  could  not  do  anything  else,  seeing  how 
lovely  his  bride  looks  in  them,"  Dick  replied, 
putting  an  arm  about  her  and  holding  her  close 
with  more  than  one  tender  caress.  Then,  hold- 
ing her  off  a  little  for  another  and  closer  in- 
spection, "  Oh,  Maud,  darling,  how  lovely  you 
are !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  feel  a  rich  and  happy 
man  to  think  you  are  all  my  own,  my  very  own. 
Dearest,  it  shall  not  be  my  fault  if  you  do  not 
find  yourself  a  happy  woman  in  the  sweet,  new 
home  to  which  I  am  about  to  take  you." 

"  Dick,  dear  Dick,  I  do  not  doubt  that  I 
shall  be  happy,"  she  said  softl}^  lifting  to  his 
eyes  that  were  full  of  happy  tears;  "if  I  am 
not,  I  am  sure  it  will  be  no  fault  of  yours." 

But  footsteps  were  heard  approaching  and  he 
took  his  arm  from  her  waist  and  stood  beside 
her  with  her  hand  in  his. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  271 

The  door  opened  and  the  bridesmaids  and 
groomsmen  filed  in.  Then  there  were  excla- 
mations of  surprise  and  delight. 

"Oh,  Maud,  how  lovely!  how  lovely! 
When  and  where  did  you  get  that  beautiful 
dress  and  veil?  We  all  thought  you  were  to 
be  married  in  your  bridesmaid  dress  that  you 
wore  at  Eosie's  wedding." 

"  And  you  like  this  one  better  ?  and  the  veil 
that  goes  with  it?  "  Maud  returned  with  a  joy- 
ous blush  and  smile. 

"  Oh,  yes,  yes,  certainly;  it  is  far  handsomer, 
and  so  becoming!  But  how  did  you  get  it  up 
so  quickly?  " 

"  I  didn't.  It  was  dear  Cousin  Elsie's  wed- 
ding dress,  and  she  has  lent  it  to  me  to  be  mar- 
ried in.  It  was  just  like  her — always  so  kind 
and  thoughtful  of  others." 

"  That  is  true,  indeed!  "  said  Lucilla;  "  I  do 
think  that  in  all  this  world  there  is  not  a  kinder 
person  than  dear  Grandma  Elsie." 

Just  then  the  little  flower  girls  appeared  in 
the  doorway  and  uttered  their  exclamations  of 
surprise  and  delight  at  the  beauty  of  the  bride's 
attire.     Their  mothers  were  just  behind  them. 


272  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

and  Violet  seemed  as  much  surprised  and 
pleased  as  the  cliildren.  She  recognized  the 
dress  and  veil — which  she  had  seen  a  number 
of  times  in  the  course  of  her  life^,  and  was  well 
content  that  her  mother  had  seen  fit  to  lend 
them  to  Maud  for  this  important  time  when  she 
could  not  provide  such  luxuries  for  herself. 

^^  The  dress  fits  you  wonderfully  well,  Maud; 
and  both  it  and  the  veil  are  very  becoming," 
Violet  said.  "  I  am  glad  mamma  had  them, 
and  thought  of  producing  them  for  this 
occasion." 

"Yes,  it  was  very,  very  kind  in  Cousin 
Elsie,"  returned  the  bride,  blushing  with 
pleasure. 

"  And  you  are  all  ready  to  go  down  now,  are 
you  not?  "  asked  Mrs.  Dinsmore.  "  Everybody 
is  here  and  waiting  for  the  ceremony  to  begin. 
The  appointed  hour  has  come,  too,  and  here  is 
the  minister,"  as  the  Eev.  Mr.  Keith  appeared 
in  the  doorway. 

At  that  the  little  procession  formed  at  once 
and  passed  down  the  broad  stairway,  through 
the  flower-bedecked  hall,  and  into  the  large 
parlour  where  the  guests  were  gathered. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  273 

All  went  well;  the  ceremony  was  short  but 
impressive,  the  congratulations  were  warm  and 
sincere,  and  the  wedding  breakfast  that  fol- 
lowed a  grand  affair.  Soon  after  it  was  over 
the  bride  changed  her  wedding  dress  for  a  neat 
and  pretty  travelling  one.  Then  she  and  her 
new-made  husband  bade  good-bye,  entered  a 
carriage,  and  started  for  a  train  that  was  to 
carry  them  on  their  homeward  way. 

Most  of  the  other  relatives  from  a  distance 
left  for  their  homes  during  the  afternoon  or 
evening.  Captain  Keith  had  announced  his  in- 
tention to  leave  that  night  by  a  later  train. 
He  was  to  start  from  Woodburn,  so  he  bade 
adieu  to  all  the  friends  but  that  family,  then 
went  home  with  his  friend.  Captain  Kaymond. 

After  a  late  dinner  there,  he  found  and  seized 
the  opportunity  he  had  so  long  been  waiting 
for.  Lucilla  was  sitting  alone  upon  the  ver- 
anda, with  a  book  in  her  hand,  but  not  reading, 
for  ]ier  eyes  were  not  on  it.  She  seemed  to 
be  thinking  intently  of  something  else.  But 
when  Captain  Keith  took  a  seat  by  her  side  she 
welcomed  him  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

"  So  you  leave  us  to-night/'  she  said,     "  I 


274  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

hope  you  have  enjoyed  your  visit  well  enough 
to  feel  a  trifle  sorry  to  go." 

"  I  have  enjoyed  my  visit  greatly/'  he  said 
in  reply,,  "  and  I  should  like  to  prolong  it;  but 
it  will  not  do  to  play  all  the  time.  It  seems 
lonely,  too,  to  have  to  go  away  taking  no  one 
with  me.  To  go  as  Cousin  Dick  did  this  after- 
noon, with  a  dear  young  wife,  would  not  be  a 
hardship;  but  to  go  alone  is  rather  dismal. 
Don't  you  think  it  must  be  ?  " 

"  Yes;  I  have  never  tried  it,  but  I  should 
think  it  was.  When  mamma  died  and  papa  had 
to  go  away  on  his  ship — oh,  you  don't  know  how 
hard  it  was  to  part  with  him — I  still  had  my 
brother  Max  and  dear  Grade.  I  had  them  both 
until  a  good  while  after  papa  came  home  to 
stay;  so  I  have  never  been  all  alone." 

"  And  I  sincerely  hope  you  never  may  be,"  he 
said.  "-  But  do  you  never  feel  as  if  you  would 
like  to  have  a  life  companion,  such  as  Maud 
was  given  to  day  ?  " 

"  A  husband,  do  you  mean?  No,  indeed!  for 
then  I  should  be  obliged  to  leave  my  dear 
father — the  best  man  in  the  world,  the  dearest, 
kindest^  most  loving  father  to  me," 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  215 

"  He  is  all  that,  I  am  sure/'  said  Keith;  "  but, 
perhaps,  some  day  you  may  find  that  you  can 
love  another  even  better  than  you  love  him." 

She  shook  her  head  dissentingly. 

"  I  can  hardly  believe  it  possible.  It  seems 
to  me  that  it  would  just  break  my  heart  to  have 
to  leave  my  father  or  to  be  separated  from  him 
in  any  way." 

Keith  sighed  drearily.  "  Miss  Raymond/' 
he  said,  "  I  love  you,  I  love  you  devotedly,  and 
if — if  you  have  not  given  your  affection  to  an- 
other, perhaps  in  time  you  may  find  it  possible 
to  return  my  love.  Will  3^gu  not  let  me  hope 
for  that?" 

"  Oh,  don't!  "  she  said,  half  rising  to  leave 
him,  her  face  scarlet  with  blushes.  ^'  I  don't 
know  anything  about  love, — that  kind  of  love, 
— and  my  father  has  forbidden  me  to  listen  to 
such  things  and " 

"  But  he  would  let  you  this  time,  for  he  gave 
me  permission  to  speak  to  you  and — and  tell 
you  of  my  love." 

"  That  is  very  strange;  I  don't  understand 
it/'  she  said,  sinking  back  into  her  chair  with  a 
look   of  perplexity  and   distress  on   her  face. 


276  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Ah/'  brightening  a  little,  "  I  think  papa  knew 
there  was  no  danger  that  I  would  be  willing 
to  leave  him  for  anybody  else." 

"  Yes;  I  suppose  that  was  it/'  sighed  Keith, 
and,  at  that  moment,  there  came  an  interrup- 
tion, very  welcome  to  Lucilla,  in  the  form  of 
little  Ned  looking  for  papa.  And  the  next  mo- 
ment papa  himself,  to  find  Captain  Keith  and 
hand  him  a  letter;  a  servant  having  just  brought 
the  afternoon  mail.  Then  Lucilla  slipped  away 
to  her  own  room,  where  she  stayed  until  sum- 
moned to  the  dining  room  by  the  tea  bell. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

It  was  a  pleasant  surprise  to  Lucilla  to  find 
Grandma  Elsie  and  Walter  there,  and  to  learn 
that  they  had  come  to  stay  several  days.  So  it 
was  easy  to  avoid  being  left  alone  with  Captain 
Keith,  and  there  was  no  more  private  talk  be- 
tween them.  When  the  carriage  drove  up  to 
take  him  to  his  train  she  was  on  the  veranda 
with  the  others,  and  he  shook  hands  with  her 
in  her  turn,  saying,  "  Good-bye,  Miss  Lu.  I 
shall  hope  to  hear  from  your  father  that  you 
are  well  and  happy." 

"  Thank  you;  good-bye,  and  I  wish  you  a  safe 
journey,"  she  said  in  reply,  but  without  lifting 
her  eyes  to  his  face. 

Just  as  she  was  ready  for  bed  her  father 
came  to  her  room  to  bid  her  good-night  as  he 
so  often  did. 

Taking  her  in  his  arms  and  looking  search- 
ingly  into  her  eyes,  "  Is  there  anything  wrong 

377 


278  ELSIE  AT  HOMR 

with  you — anything  troubling  you,  daughter?" 
he  asked  tenderly. 

"  Yes,  papa,"  she  said,  colouring  and  drop- 
ping her  eyes.  "  Oh,  why  did  you  let  Captain 
Keith  talk  to  me  of — of  love,  when  you  have  so 
often  told  me  I  was  much  too  young  to  even 
think  of  such  things." 

"  Well,  dear  child,"  he  said,  "  I  knew  it  would 
be  risking  little  or  nothing,  as  I  was  certain  T 
had  too  large  a  place  in  your  heart  to  leave  any 
room  for  him,  but  it  seemed  the  only  way  to 
thoroughly  convince  him  of  that  was  to  let  him 
try  to  push  himself  in  there.  And  he  did 
try?" 

"Yes,  papa;  and  when  I  told  him  you  had 
forbidden  me  to  listen  to  such  things,  he  said 
you  had  given  him  leave  to  speak  about  it  to  me; 
and  that  surprised  me  more  than  his  speaking. 
You  didn't  want  me  to  say  yes,  father  ?  " 

"No,  daughter;  no,  indeed!  I  should  not 
have  let  him  speak  if  I  had  not  been  very  sure 
that  my  dear  child  loved  me  too  well  to  leave 
me  for  him  or  anybody  else." 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad!  "  she  exclaimed  with  a 
sigh  of  relief  and  laying  her  head  down  on  his 


BL8IE  AT  HOME.  279 

breast,  ^^  though  I  couldn't  believe  that  my 
dear  father  wanted  to  be  rid  of  me,  or  felt  will- 
ing that  I  should  love  anybody  else  better  than 
I  love  him." 

"  No,  dear  daughter,  you  need  never  be  afraid 
of  that.  Bat,  now,  good-night.  Go  at  once  to 
your  bed,  for  you  are  looking  very  weary." 

She  obeyed,  slept  sweetly  and  peacefully  till 
her  usual  hour  for  rising,  and,  as  was  her  usual 
custom,  joined  her  father  in  a  stroll  about  the 
grounds  before  the  breakfast  hour. 

"  How  would  you  and  Grace  like  to  have  your 
friends  Eva  and  Sydney  here  for  a  few  days, 
daughter?  "  he  asked  as  they  paced  along  side 
by  side. 

"  Oh,  I  think  it  would  be  very  pleasant, 
papa! "  she  answered  in  a  joyous  tone.  "  I 
know  Gracie  v/ould  like  it,  and  I  think  Sydney 
would,  too.  Eva  always  does.  I  believe  she 
loves  you  almost  as  well  as  if  you  were  her 
father  as  well  as  ours." 

"  Ah !  that  is  pleasant  news  for  me,"  he  said 
with  a  smile.  "  I  am  fond  of  her,  too,  though, 
of  course,  not  with  just  the  fondness  I  feel  for 
my  own  children." 


280  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Oh,  I  am  glad  you  don't!  I  shouldn't  want 
you  to  love  her  as  well  as  you  do  me.  Will  you 
invite  the  girls,  papa?" 

"  Yes;  we  will  call  to  them  through  the  tele- 
phone after  breakfast.'^ 

They  did  so,  there  was  a  joyful  acceptance 
from  each,  and  before  the  dinner  hour  they 
had  both  arrived.  Sydney  had  not  gone  with 
Maud  and  Dick.  It  had  been  decided  before 
the  wedding  that  it  would  be  better  for  her  to 
remain  in  a  more  northern  region  till  fall,  then 
go  South  to  make  her  home  with  her  sister. 

"  I  was  glad  of  your  invitation,  captain,"  she 
said  when  he  helped  her  out  of  the  carriage, 
"  for  I  was  finding  it  dreadfully  lonesome  with- 
out my  sister." 

"  Ah !  so  I  suspected,  as  did  my  wife,  and  we 
thought  it  might  relieve  your  loneliness  a  little 
to  spend  a  few  days  here  with  us." 

"  Yes;  it  was  so  kind,"  she  responded,  "  so 
very  kind!  And  you  are  here,  too,  Cousin 
Elsie,  and  Walter!  Oh,  I  am  sure  we  are  going 
to  have  a  fine  time." 

"  Yes,  indeed,  I  always  do  have  the  best  of 
times   here,"   said   Evelyn;    ^^  especially   when 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  281 

Grandma  Elsie  and  Walter  add  their  attrac- 
tions to  those  of  the  Woodbum  folks." 

'^  We  will  all  try  to  make  it  as  delightful  as 
we  can/'  said  Grace.  "  Papa  has  kindly  ex- 
cused Lu  and  me  from  lessons  while  you  stay; 
so  we  can  busy  ourselves  with  fancy  work  or 
anything  we  like,  when  we  are  not  driving  or 
walking;  and  we  have  some  new  books  and 
periodicals  that  one  can  read  aloud  while  the 
rest  are  doing  fancy  work  or  whatever  they 
please.  We  can  play  games,  too,  so  I  think  we 
will  not  lack  for  amusement." 

^'  No,  we  never  do,  here,"  said  Eva. 

And  they  did  not;  time  passed  swiftly  and 
pleasantly  in  the  round  of  occupations  and 
amusements  suggested  by  Grace.  Friday  and 
Saturday  soon  slipped  by,  and  Sunday  came, 
bringing  its  sacred  duties  and  pleasures — re- 
ligious services  at  home,  at  church,  then  the 
Sunday  schools,  and  after  that  the  home  Bible 
class,  which  all  found  so  pleasant.  They 
gathered  upon  the  veranda,  each  with  a  Bible  in 
hand;  for  even  little  Ned  could  now  read  flu- 
ently, and  generally  find  the  references  for 
himself. 


S82  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

"  Will  you  not  lead  us  to-day,  mother? " 
asked  the  captain  when  all  were  seated. 

"  No,"  she  said  with  her  pleasant  smile,  "  I 
very  much  prefer  to  have  that  burden  borne  by 
my  son-in-law,  Captain  Eaymond." 

"And  you  wish  him  to  select  the  subject?  " 

"  Yes;  he  cannot  fail  to  fix  upon  a  good  and 
interesting  one." 

"  And  how  is  it  with  you,  my  love  ? "  he 
asked,  turning  to  Violet. 

"  Suppose  we  take  thanksgiving  as  our  sub- 
ject," she  said;  "  we  all  have  so  much,  so  very 
much,  to  be  thankful  for." 

"Indeed  we  have!"  he  returned  emphati- 
cally, "  and  I  think  no  better  subject  could  be 
found.  Neddie,  my  boy,  can  you  tell  papa 
something  you  have  to  be  thankful  for?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  papa!  eyes  to  see  with,  ears  to  hear 
with,  hands  and  feet,  and  that  I  can  use  them 
all;  for  I  saw  a  boy  the  other  day  that  can't 
walk  at  all,  though  he  has  feet,  but  must  lie 
on  a  bed  or  sit  in  a  chair  all  the  time;  while 
I  can  walk,  and  run,  and  jump  whenever 
I  want  to." 

"  Yes,   those    are    all    great   blessings,"   his 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  283 

father  said.  ^'  And  now,  Elsie,  can  you  think 
of  some  others?  " 

"  Oh,  so  many,  papa!  more  than  I  can 
count,"  the  Utile  girl  answered  earnestly.  "  A 
dear,  kind  father  and  mother,  and  grandma 
among  them;  and,  oh,  so  many  dear  relations 
besides;  'specially  my  sisters  and  brothers. 
And  I  am  so  glad  I  was  born  in  this  Christian 
land  and  taught  about  God  and  the  dear 
Saviour;  and  have  a  Bible  to  read,  and  know 
that  I  may  pray  to  God,  and  that  he  will  hear 
me  and  help  me  to  be  good — to  love  and  serve 
him.  But,  oh!  I  can't  name  all  my  blessings, 
papa,  they  are  so  very,  very  many." 

"  That  is  very  true,  daughter,"  he  replied; 
^'  and  we  can  all  say  the  same;  our  blessings  are 
more  than  we  can  count.  But  the  best  of  all 
is  the  gift  of  God's  dear  son.  ^  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.'  *  Thanks  be 
unto  God  for  his  unspeakable  gift.'  ^  I  will 
sing  unto  the  Lord  as  long  as  I  live;  I  will 
sing  praise  to  my  God  while  I  have  being.'  So 
says  the  Psalmist,  and  surely  we  can  all  echo 


284  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

his  words  from  our  very  hearts.  Mother,  yon 
seem  to  have  selected  a  passage.  Will  you 
please  read  it?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said;  "  here  in  Corinthians  where 
the  apostle  is  speaking  of  the  sting  of  death  and 
the  victory  over  the  grave,  he  cries  exultingly, 
^  But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  givetli  us  the 
victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  Then 
he  goes  on,  '  Therefore  my  beloved  brethren  be 
ye  steadfast,  unmovable,  always  abounding 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  ye 
know  that  your  labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the 
Lord.' " 

"  Yes;  and  let  us  all  heed  that  exhortation," 
said  the  captain.  "Evelyn,  you  seem  to  have 
a  text  ready.     Will  you  please  read  it  ?  " 

"  These  words  of  Jesus,"  she  said,  "  ^  I  will 
not  leave  you  comfortless;  I  will  come  to  you,' 
are  they  not  words  to  be  thankful  for?  " 

"  They  are,  indeed!  "  he  said.  "  What  can 
be  more  comforting  than  the  presence  of  the 
Master?  His  presence  and  his  love.  '  He  that 
hath  my  commandments  and  keepeth  them,  he 
it  is  that  loveth  me :  and  he  that  loveth  me  shall 
be  loved  of  my  Father,  and  I  will  love  him, 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  285 

and  will  manifest  myself  to  him? '  Ah!  what 
is  there  more  worthy  to  be  thankful  for  than 
the  love  of  Christ!  But  when  should  we  give 
thanks,  Walter?" 

"  Always,  sir.  Here  in  Ephesians  I  read, 
'  Giving  thanks  always  for  all  things  unto  God 
the  Father,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ/  Again  in  first  Thessalonians,  ^  We  give 
thanks  to  God  always  for  you  all,  making  men- 
tion of  you  in  our  prayers.' '' 

Then  Sydney,  Lucilla,  and  Grace  read  in 
turn: 

*^  ^  Unto  thee,  0  God,  do  we  give  thanks,  unto 
thee  do  we  give  thanks;  for  that  thy  name  is 
near  thy  wondrous  works  declare.'  " 

^' '  And  let  the  peace  of  God  rule  in  your 
hearts,  to  which  also  ye  are  called  in  one  body; 
and  be  ye  thankful.  Let  the  word  of  Christ 
dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom;  teaching  and 
admonishing  one  another  in  psalms  and  hymns 
and  spiritual  songs,  singing  with  grace  in  your 
hearts  to  the  Lord.  And  whatsoever  ye  do  in 
word  or  deed,  do  all  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  giving  thanks  to  God  and  the  Father  by 
him.' " 


286  ELSIE  AT  ROME. 

"  '  Continue  in  prayer  and  watch  in  the  same 
with  thanksgiving.' '' 

They  read,  in  turn,  again  and  again,  finding 
the  Bible  full  of  exhortations  to  thanksgiving, 
then  joined  in  singing  hymns  of  praise — not 
with  their  voices  onl}^,  but  with  joy,  and  thank- 
fulness in  their  hearts  because  of  the  good  gifts 
of  God,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  to  them  all. 

So  closed  the  Sabbath  day,  and  after  it  fol- 
lowed a  night  of  sweet  sleep  and  peaceful  rest. 

At  the  breakfast  table  the  next  morning 
Walter  asked :  "  Where  are  we  going  to  spend 
our  summer?  Isn't  it  time  to  be  thinking 
about  it?" 

The  question  seemed  to  be  addressed  to  no 
one  in  particular.  There  was  a  moment's 
silence;  then  the  captain  said: 

"  Suppose  you  give  us  your  ideas  and  wishes 
on  that  subject,  Walter." 

''  Well,  I  haven't  much  choice,  sir;  there  are 
so  many  places  that  are  about  equally  agreeable 
to  me.  Anywhere  with  mother  and  the  rest  of 
you." 

"  Then  what  place  would  you  prefer, 
mother?  "  asked  the  captain. 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  287 

^^It  is  a  question  I  have  hardly  considered 
yet/'  she  replied.  "  Perhaps  it  might  be  well 
to  hold  a  family  council  on  the  subject." 

"  May  I  offer  a  suggestion  ?  "  asked  Evelyn 
modestly,  blushing  as  she  spoke. 

^'  Certainly,  my  dear,"  said  Mrs.  Travilla. 

"  We  will  be  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  the 
captain. 

^^  Then  it  is  that  all  who  think  they  would 
find  it  agreeable  will  spend  at  least  a  week  or 
two  with  me  in  my  cottage  on  the  Hudson.  It 
was  rented  for  a  time,  but  is  vacant  now,  and 
I  want  very  much  to  be  in  it  for  a  while,  yet 
certainly  not  alone." 

^'  It  is  most  kind  in  you  to  invite  us,  Evelyn, 
dear,"  said  Mrs.  Travilla,  "  but  our  party  would 
much  more  than  fill  it." 

^^  Unless  we  should  go  in  relays,"  laughed 
Violet;  "  perhaps  it  might  be  managed  in 
that  way,  if  Eva  is  very  desirous  to  have  us 
there." 

^^And  perhaps  there  are  hotels  in  the 
vicinity  where  most  of  us  could  be  accommo- 
dated," said  the  captain.  "  We  are  much 
obliged  for  your  invitation,  Eva,  and  will  con- 


288  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

sider  the  question  and  talk  it  over  with  the 
others  who  may  choose  to  be  of  cur  party." 

"  Oh,  I  think  it  would  be  fun  to  go  there! " 
exclaimed  Sydney.  "  If  I  can  have  my  way,  I'll 
pay  you  a  little  visit  there,  and  pas.s  the  rest  of 
the  time  at  the  seashore." 

"That  is  what  I  should  like  to  do/'  said 
Lucilla. 

"And  I  also/'  added  Grace;  "if  papa  and 
mamma  approve,  and  would  be  with  us  in  both 
places." 

"  Of  course  I  meant  that/'  Lucilla  hastened 
to  say;  "  we  would  not  half  enjoy  ourselves 
without  them;  and  the  children,"  she  added, 
glancing  at  Elsie  and  Ned. 

"  It  seems  to  me  we're  getting  pretty  big  to 
be  called  that,"  said  Ned  a  little  scornfully. 
"  I'll  be  a  man  one  of  these  days." 

"  Not  quite  that  yet,  little  brother,"  laughed 
Lucilla. 

The  talk  in  regard  to  the  summer's  excursion 
was  renewed  after  family  worship,  as  they  all 
sat  together  upon  the  veranda.  Various  places 
were  talked  of,  various  plans  discussed,  but 
nothing  could  be  fully  decided  upon  without 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  289 

consultation  with  the  other  near  relatives  who 
might  decide  to  be  of  the  party. 

"Hello!  here  comes  Doctor  Herbert/^  ex- 
claimed Walter,  as  a  doctor's  gig  turned  in  at 
the  great  gates  and  came  driving  rapidly  up  to 
the  house. 

"  What  is  it.  Doc?  "  springing  up  and  hasten- 
ing down  the  steps  as  the  gig  halted  before 
them. 

"  A  letter  for  mother/'  answered  Herbert, 
handing  it  to  Walter  as  he  spoke.  "  Grood- 
morning,  mother,  and  all  of  you.  You  are 
looking  well  and  have  no  need  of  a  doctor,  I 
suppose? " 

"  Yes,  we  want  a  call  from  that  one,"  said 
Violet.  "  Come  in,  won't  you,  if  it  is  for  only 
five  minutes?" 

*^Well,  yes;  since  you  are  so  urgent  and  I 
know  of  no  urgent  call  for  my  services  else- 
where," answered  Herbert,  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word. 

^"Good-morning,  my  son,"  was  his  mother's 
smiling  salutation,  as  he  bent  down  to  give  her 
an  affectionate  caress.  "  I  suppose  you  want  to 
hear  what  Bosie  has  to  say.     I  will  just  glance 


290  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

over  her  letter,  then  read  aloud  whatever  I 
think  she  would  deem  suitable  for  you  all  to 
hear/' 

It  was  a  pleasant,  cheerful  letter;  all  seemed 
to  be  going  right  with  the  young  couple,  they 
very  happy  in  each  other.  They  were  at 
Niagara  Falls,  expecting  soon  to  leave  there  for 
some  place  on  the  Hudson,  and  afterward  to 
visit  the  seashore;  but  their  plans  were  not  yet 
definitely  arranged;  nor  would  they  be  until 
Will's  parents  and  Rosie's  home  friends,  intend- 
ing to  go  North  for  the  summer,  were  heard 
from  in  regard  to  their  plans  and  purposes. 

"  Well,"  said  Herbert,  when  the  reading  of 
the  letter  was  concluded,  "  I  think  we  will  have 
to  hold  a  family  council,  taking  in  the  Crolys, 
and  decide  those  momentous  questions.  Eight 
quickly,  too,  for  the  weather  is  growing  very 
warm,  and  if  you  all  stay  here  our  firm  may 
have  to©  much  to  do." 

"  I  think  you  are  right,  doctor,"  said  the  cap- 
tain, "  and  lest  you  and  Harold  and  Arthur 
should  be  overworked,  I  intend  to  see  that  that 
council  is  held  promptly." 

"  Well,  captain,  suppose  we  appoint  this  even- 


EL8IE  AT  HOME.  291 

ing  as  the  time,  and  Roselands  as  the  place,  as 
the  Crolys  are  there,  and  not  so  able  as  the  rest 
of  us  to  go  about  from  place  to  place." 

"  That  s©ems  a  very  good  plan,"  said  his 
mother,  "but  I  think  it  will  not  be  necessary 
for  us  all  to  attend.  I  prefer  to  leave  the  de- 
cision with  the  gentlemen  of  our  party.  Can 
you  go,  Herbert?  " 

"  To  the  family  council,  mother?     Oh,  yes!  " 

"  That  is  well,"  she  said  with  a  smile,  "  but 
I  meant  can  you  go  North  with  us?  " 

"  For  a  part  of  the  time,  I  think;  we  three 
doctors  can  doubtless  take  turns  in  having  a 
vacation." 

"  You  ought  to,  I  think,"  said  Violet. 
"  Doctors  certainly  need  rest  as  much,  or  more, 
than  most  other  people." 

"Yes,  they  do,  indeed!"  said  the  captain; 
"  they  are,  as  a  rule,  very  much  overworked,  I 
think." 

"  Some  of  them  hardly  so  much  as  they 
might  like  to  be,"  laughed  Herbert.  "  You 
will  be  coming  home  soon,  mother?  "  turning 
to  her. 

"  Yes;  probably  to-morrow,"  she  answered. 


292  ELSIE  AT  HOME. 

He  chatted  a  little  longer,  then  drove  away. 
The  young  people  presently  went  off  into  the 
grounds,  leaving  Grandma  Elsie,  Violet,  and 
the  captain  still  sitting  in  the  veranda,  they 
busied  with  their  fancy  work,  he  looking  over 
the  morning  paper. 

"If  you  find  anything  very  interesting,  my 
dear,  mamma  and  I  will  be  glad  to  hear  it," 
said  Violet. 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  "  and  here  is  something  in- 
teresting, though  far  from  being  pleasant  news. 
Davis,  one  of  the  burglars  whom  Lucilla  caught, 
has  escaped  from  prison;  gone  no  one  knows 
where,  and  may  be  even  now  lurking  in  this 
neighbourhood.  I  must  watch  over  my  daugh- 
ter or  he  may  attempt  to  do  her  some  harm. 
At  the  time  of  the  trial  he  seemed  to  feel  very 
revengeful  toward  her." 

"Oh,  that  is  dreadful!"  cried  Violet. 
"Indeed  we  must  be  watchful  over  poor  dear 
Lu.     You  will  not  tell  her,  Levis?  " 

"  I  think  I  shall,"  he  said  reflectively;  "  she 
will  need  to  be  careful  about  venturing  to  a  dis- 
tance from  the  house,  even  within  the  grounds, 
without  a  protector;  therefore  I  must  warn  her 


ELSIE  AT  SOME.  2d$ 

and  forbid  her  to  run  any  unnecessary  risk. 
I  hope  it  may  not  be  long  before  the  fellow  will 
be  caught  and  returned  to  his  prison." 

"And  I  think  it  might  be  well  for  us  to 
hasten  our  departure  for  the  North  for  her 
safety/'  said  Violet.  "  She  would  be  safer 
there,  would  she  not?" 

"  Probably,"  he  replied,  "  and  we  will  make 
haste  to  be  off  on  that  account." 

"  Yes;  I  think  you  should,  by  all  means,"  said 
her  mother.  "  Anything  that  I  can  do  to 
assist  your  preparations,  Vi,  will  be  gladly 
done." 

"I  will  set  to  work  at  once,"  exclaimed 
Violet. 

"  And  I  shall  call  my  daughters  in  at  once 
and  set  them  about  their  preparations,"  said  the 
captain,  throwing  aside  his  paper  and  starting 
even  as  he  spoke. 

The  young  people  were  much  surprised  by  his 
summons  and  directions  to  his  daughters,  but 
he  did  not  go  into  a  lengthened  explanation; 
merely  said  that  he  had  decided  to  start 
northward  in  a  day  or  two,  and  necessary  prepa- 
rations must  be  made  as  promptly  as  possible. 


294  ELSIE  AT  HOMS. 

His  daughters  were  accustomed  to  rendering 
prompt  and  unquestioning  obedience  to  their 
father's  commands^  and  did  so  now,  though 
much  wondering  at  this  sudden  move. 

Some  hours  L^ter  he  called  Lucilla  aside  and 
told  her  the  whole  story.  She  turned  pale  for 
a  moment,  then,  lifting  fearless  eyes  to  his, 
"  Father/'  she  said,  ^'  don't  be  uneasy  about  me. 
I  will  trust  in  the  Lord  and  not  be  afraid;  I  will 
trust  in  his  care  and  yours,  and  I  shall  be  safe. 
I  am  thinking  of  those  sweet  verses  in  the 
thirty-seventh  Psalm,  ^  But  the  salvation  of  the 
righteous  is  of  the  Lord:  he  is  their  strength  in 
the  time  of  trouble.  And  the  Lord  shall  help 
them  and  deliver  them:  he  shall  deliver  them 
from  the  wicked,  and  save  them,  because  they 
trust  in  him.' " 

"  YcvS,  dear  child,  trust  in  him  and  you  will 
be  safe,"  returned  the  captain  with  emotion. 
"I  shall  not  go  over  to  Eoselands  this  evening, 
as  I  had  intended,  but  will  talk  through  the 
telephone  to  the  friends  gathered  there  to  dis- 
cuss the  questions  when  we  shall  start  for  the 
North  and  in  what  spots  locate  ourselves  for 
the  summer." 


ELSIE  AT  HOME.  295 

He  did  so,  and  before  they  were  throiigli 
with  their  conference  it  was  decided  that  he, 
with  his  family,  Evelyn,  Sydney,  Grandma 
Elsie,  Walter,  and  all  the  Lelands  should  at 
once  pack  up,  and  in  two  days  start  for  Eva's 
cottage  on  the  Hudson. 

Little  preparation  was  needed  but  the  pack- 
ing of  trunks;  all  were  ready  at  the  set  time, 
started  away  in  good  healtli  and  spirits,  and, 
travelling  by  rail,  soon  reached  their  destina- 
tion; where  we  will  leave  them  for  the  present. 


THE  END. 


Good   Books   for  the   Young 

MARTHA  FINLEY 

Elsie  Dinsmore.    By  Martha   Finley.    With  Illustrations  by 
H.  C.  Christy.    Large  8vo,  cloth,  .  .  .         $1.50 

It  is  high  time  that  an  adequately  illustrated  edition  of  this 
famous  book  for  the  young  were  offered  to  the  public.  The  pub- 
lishers have  chosen  wisely  in  se^lectlng  as  an  Illustrator  Mr.  H.  C. 
Christy.  His  art  is  a  very  delicate  one  and  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  depicting  of  the  young.  The  book  is  large  and  thoroughly 
well  made,  and  ought  to  become  widely  popular  as  a  presenta- 
tion book  for  the  young. 

Elsie  at  Home.    By  Martha  Finley.    Similar  in  general  style 
to  the  previous  *'  Elsie  "  books.     i6mo,  cloth,  .  $1-25 

MissFinley's  young  readers  will  be  delighted  to  learn  that  a 
new  volume  has  come  from  her  pen.  It  relates  further  experi- 
ences of  "  Elsie  ''  and  her  family.  This  was  the  work  that  was 
announced  for  publication  last  year,  but,  owing  to  the  author's 
ill  health,  its  publication  was  deferred  until  this  autumn. 

The  Elsie  Books.    Each  one  volume,  i2mo,  cloth,  .         $1.25 

In  sets,  boxed,  twenty-one  volumes,  .  .  .  26.25 

1.  Elsie  Dinsmore.    (Also  Phe-      13.  Elsie's  Friends    at    Wood- 

nix  edition,  i6mo,  cloth.)  burn 

2.  Elsie's  Girlhood  14.  Christmas    with    Grandma 

3.  Elsie's  Holidays  in  Roselands  Elsie 

4.  Elsie's  Womanhood  15.  Elsie  and  the  Raymonds 

5.  Elsie's  Motherhood  16.  Elsie's  Yachting  with  the 

6.  Elsie's  Children  Raymonds 

7.  Elsie's  Widowhood  17.  Elsie's  Vacation 

8.  Grandmother  Elsie  18.  Elsie  at  Viamede 

9.  Elsie's  New  Relations  19.  Elsie  at  Ion 

10.  Elsie  at  Nantucket  20.  Elsie  at  the  World's  Fair 

11.  The  Two  Elsies  21.  Elsie's  Journey  on  Inland 

12.  Elsie's  Kith  and  Kin  Waters 

Wherever  children  read  at  all,  in  America,  the  Elsie  books 
are  known.  Their  popularity  is  among  the  encouraging  signs  of 
the  day  as  showing  a  strong  sympathy,  on  the  part  of  younger 
readers,  with  the  good  and  the  self-sacriiicing  and  the  kind. 

The  Mildred  Books-     A  companion  Series  to  the  Elsie  Books. 

Each  one  vol.,  i6mo,  cloth,   .  .  .  .  .         $1.25 

In  sets,  boxed,  seven  vols.,         .  .  .  .  .  8.75 

1.  Mildred  Keith  5.  Mildred  at  Home 

2.  Mildred  at  Roselands  6.  Mildred's  Boys  and  Girls 

3.  Mildred's  Married  Life  7.  Mildred's  New  Daughter 

4.  Mildred  and  Elsie 


MARTHA  FlNLEY—CoHihtued. 

The  Finley  Library.    Each  one  vol.,  i6mo,  cloth,  .        $1.25 

The  set,  seven  vols,  in  a  box,     .....  8.75 

1.  Cassella.     A  Tale  of  the  Waldenses. 

2   Our  Fred ;  or.  Seminary  Life  at  Thurston. 

3.  An  Old-Fashioned  Boy. 

4.  Wanted,  a  Pedigree. 

6.  The  Thorn  in  the  Nest. 

6.  Signing  the  Contract,  and  What  it  Ooff 

7.  The  Tragedy  of  Wild  Eiver  Valley 

RAFFORD  PYKE 

The  Adventures  of  Mabel.  By  Rafford  Pyke.  For  children 
of  five  and  six.  With  many  illustrations  by  Melanie  Elisa- 
beth Norton.    Large  8vo,  probably,         .  .  .         $1.75 

These  are  simple  stories  told  in  such  a  way  as  reallj^to  inter- 
est children  of  live  or  six  years  of  age,  and  not  written  over  their 
heads,  as  are  so  many  of  the  so-called  children's  stories  of  to-day. 
The  author  has  told  them  again  and  again  to  his  own  child,  and 
as  they  charmed  her,  we  believe  they  will  delight  most  little  girls 
of  her  age.  The  illustrations  are  drawn  to  please  the  children — 
not  simply  to  deporate  the  book.  Under  the  pseudonym  of  Raf- 
ford Pyke  is  concealed  the  identity  of  a  widely  known  scholar, 
editor,  and  critic. 

WILLIS  J,  ABBOT 

Naval  History  of  the  United  States.  By  Willis  J.  Abbot. 
With  many  illustrations  by  H.  W.  McVicar  and  W.  C.  Jack- 
son. This  is  a  new  edition  with  large  additions,  and  a  new 
arrangement  of  the  three  BLUE  JACKET  BOOKS.  It  now 
forms  one  large  8vo  volume  of  over  icxk)  pages,  and  is  fully 
revised  and  brought  down  to  date.    Price,       .  .         13-75 

Among  the  most  entertaining  and  instructive  books  that 
could  possibly  be  put  in  the  hands  of  an  American  boy. 


HANS  ANDERSEN 

Hans  Andersen's  Fairy  Tales.  Being  a  new  edition  of  some  of 
his  best  known  fairy  tales.  Handsomely  bound,  two  vol- 
umes in  one.    Fully  illustrated  by  Gaskin.    8vo,  cloth,      $2.00 

A  thoroughly  satisfactory  edition  of  these  classic  fairy  tales. 


A  CHlLD^S  STORY 

Brownie-  A  Story  told  from  a  Child's  Point  of  View.  With 
numerous  illustEations.    i2mo,  cloth,  probably  .         $1.25 

A  charming  story  about  rather  than  for  children. 

AMANDA   M,   DOUGLAS 
Children  at  Sherburne  House.   By  Amanda  M.  Douglas.    i2mo, 

cloth,  ........  $i.i;o 

Miss  Douglas  has  been  urged  to  continue  the  his,tory  of  the 
Sherburne  family,  and  will  have  a  new  book  ready  in'tlie  autumn 
which  will  carry  the  heroine  a  little  further  in  the  story  of  her 
life.  Miss  Douglas'  books  for  the  young  show  no  sign  of  abating 
in  popularity. 

Nan.  A  Sequel  to  "A  Little  Girl  in  Old  New  York."  By 
Amanda  M.  Douglas.    Illustrated.    i2mo,  cloth,        .       $1.50 

This  story,  by  the  very  popular  author  of  the  Sherburne 
books,  recounts  the  experiences  of  a  little  girl  who,  fifty  years 
ago,  came  from  a  farm  in  Yonkers  to  visit  the  great  metropolis. 
The  narrative  reflects,  with  wonderful  truth  and  vivacity,  the  life 
manners,  and  customs  of  the  time,  as  seen  through  the  eyes  of  a 
young  girl.  It  is,  in  a  sense,  the  continuation  of  the  work  pub- 
lished last  year,  entitled  "  A  Little  Girl  in  Old  New  York." 

By  the  same  author': 

Sherburne  House.    A  novel.    i2mo,  cloth,    .  .  .        $1.50 
Lyndell   Sherburne.     A   sequel   to    "  Sherburne    House." 

i2mo,  cloth,         .            .            .           .            .  .  .  1.50 

The  Sherburne  Cousins.    i2rao,  cloth,           .  .  .  1.50 

The  Sherburne  Eoniance.    i2mo,  cloth,         .  .  .  1*50 

The  Mistress  of  Sherburne.    lamo,  cloth,      .  .  .  1.50 

A  Little  Girl  in  Old  New  York.    i2mo,  cloth,  .  .  1.50 

BEATRICE   HARRADEN 

The  Children's  Christmas  Book.  By  Beatrice  Harraden, 
author  of  "  Ships  that  Pass  in  the  Night,"  "Hilda  Strafford," 
etc.    Illustrated.    Cloth,  probably  .  .  .         $1.50 

An  announcement  of  interest  to  admirers  of  Miss  Harraden, 
and  of  juvenile  literature  in  general,  is  to  the  effect  that  she  has 
completed  a  book  of  stories  for  children.  It  will  be  fully  illus- 
trated a^d  should  be  among  the  most  popular  books  to  be  pub- 
lished in  this  class  of  literature. 


ELIZABETH   STUART   PHELPS 

Gypay's  Year  at  the  Golden  Crescent.  By  Elizabeth  Stuart 
Phelps,  author  of  "A  Singular  Life,"  etc.  A  new  and  illus- 
trated edition.  Uniform  with  the  previous  volumes  of  the 
same  series.    Fully  illustrated.    Large  i2mo,  cloth,  $1.50 

Mrs.  Phelps'  success  as  a  writer  of  juvenile  stories  is  often 
lost  sight  of,  in  view  of  her  better-known  novels  for  elders, 
but  there  are  no  better  books  for  boys  and  girls  than  "  The 
Gypsy  "  books.  They  are  sound,  wholesome,  and  true  to 
life,  and  once  introduced  into  a  family  are  sure  to  be  read  and 
reread  until  worn  out. 

The  volumes  already  reissued  in  this  new  and  modernized 
illustrated  edition  have  been  so  well  received  that  a  fourth  vol- 
ume will  be  added  to  the  series  in  the  autumn,  completing  the 
series. 

Other  Volumes  in  the  Gypsy  Series  : 

G3rp8y  Breyntou-    With  between  thirty  and  forty  illustrations. 

Large  i2mo,  cloth,       ......         $1.50 

Gypsy's  Cousin  Joy.    With  fifty  illustrations.    Large  i2mo, 

cloth,         ........  2.40 

Gypsy's  Sowing  and  Reaping.     With  many  illustrations. 

Large  i2mo,  cloth,        ......  1.50 


GEORGE   E.   FARROW 

The  Missing  Prince.    By  G.  E.  Farrow,  author  of  "The  Wally- 

pug  of  Why."  Fully  illustrated  by  Harry  Furniss  and  Dorothy 
Furniss.    In  handsome  cloth  binding,  gilt  top,  .         $1.50 

Mr.  G.  E.  Farrow  has  already  acquired  a  considerable  repu- 
tation for  his  fancifully  conceived  stories  for  children,  and  all 
those  who  remember  "The  Wallypug  of  Why  "  will  eagerly  wel- 
come the  appearance  of  a  new  story  from  his  pen,  Judged  on  its 
own  merits,  "The  Missing  Prince"  is  an  admirable  piece  of 
work.  Always  graceful  and  fanciful,  and  sparkling  with  mirth 
and  humor,  the  story  of  "  Boys'  "  marvelous  adventure  is  sure  to 
delight  the  children.  The  versatility  of  Mr.  Farrow's  imagina- 
tion shows  no  sign  of  falling  off,  and  we  can  safely  prophesy  a 
wide  circle  of  delighted  readers  for  "  The  Missing  Prince." 

By  the  same  author: 

The  Wallypug  of  Why.     With    sixty-five    illustrations.     8vo, 
cloth,     ........  $1.50 


ELIZABETH   W.   CHAMPNEY 

Witch  Winnie  in  Venice.     By   Elizabeth   W.   Champney. 

With  many  illustrations.    Large  i2mo,  cloth,   .  .         $1.50 

Witch  Winnie,  so  well  known  to  a  host  of  young  readers,  will 
continue  in  this  volume  her  travels  and  studies  abroad.  There 
is  probably  no  city  in  Europe  which  Mrs.  Champney's  readers 
would  so  much  like  to  have  described  as  Venice,  and  we  are  sure 
this  will  be  a  popular  volume  in  this  well-known  series. 

Other  Witch  Winnie  .Books.     Each  i  vol.     Illustrated.    Large 
i2mo,         ........  $1.50 

1.  Witch  Winnie  5.  Witch  Winnie  at  Shinnecock 

2.  Witch  Winnie's  Mystery  6.  Witeh  Winnie  at  Versailles 

3.  Witch  Winnie's  Studio  7.  Witch  Winnie  in  Holland 

4.  Witch  Winnie  in  Paris 

The  Witch  Winnie  books  have  delighted  a  host  of  girl  readers, 
and  are  destined  to  be  known  to  a  still  larger  number.  They  are 
illustrated  by  American  artists  and  by  engravings  from  photo- 
graphs, and  handsomely  printed,  and  are  models  of  fine  book- 
making. 

Pierre  and  His  Poodle.    By  Elizabeth  W.  Champney.    With 
numerous  illustrations,    i6mo,  cloth,       .  .  .         $1.00 

A  companion  volume  to  "  Paddy  O'Leary  and  His  Learned 
Pig,"  published  some  while  since.  The  book  is  of  a  most  amus- 
ing nature,  and  should  make  a  good  present  for  the  young. 

Similar  to  the  above  : 

Paddy  O'Leary  and  His  Learned  Pig.    With  numerous  illustra- 
tions by  F.  D.  Steele.     i6mo,  cloth,  .  .  .         f  i.oo 


BARBARA   YECHTON 

Derick.     By   Barbara   Yechton.     Illustrated.     Large   lamo, 
cloth,         ........         I1.50 

This  is  a  new  work  by  Barbara  Yechton,  whose  stories  for 
the  young  in  "The  Churchman  "  and  other  periodicals  have  won 
for  her  an  enviable  position  in  the  ranks  of  successful  writers  of 
"juveniles."  The  tone  of  Miss  Yechton's  books  is  always  vigor- 
ous and  full  of  fun,  and  they  have  repeatedly  been  recom- 
mended by  parents  for  their  healthy  influence  upon  children. 

By  the  same  author: 
**W©Ten."    Large  i2mo,  cloth,  ....        $1.50 


THE  POPULAR  PHENIX  SERIES. 

New  Volumes: 
A  Doctor  of  the  Old  School.    By  Ian  Maclaren. 
A  Daughter  of  Fife.    By  Amelia  E.  Barr. 
He  Fell  in  Love  with  His  Wife.    By  E.  P.  Roe. 
Peg  Woffington.     By  Charles  Reade. 
Slain  by  the  Doones.    By  R.  D.  Blackmore. 
Between  Two  Loves.    By  Amelia  E.  Barr. 

Previously  Published: 
Opening  a  Chestnut  Eurr.    By  E.  P.  Roe. 
Barriers  Burned  Away.    By  E.  P.  Roe. 
The  Bow  of  Orange  Ribbon-    By  Amelia  E.  Barr. 
Jan  Vedder's  Wife.    By  Amelia  E.  Barr, 
Elsie  Dinsmore.    By  Martha  Finley. 
The  Abbe  Constantin.     By  Ludovic  Halevy, 
A  Young  Girl's  Wooing.    By  E.  P.  Roe. 
An  Original  Belle.    By  E.  P.  Roe. 
A  Border  Shepherdess.    By  Amelia  E.  Barr. 
The  Great  War  Syndicate.    By  Frank  R.  Stockton. 
The  Stories  of  Three  Biwrglars.    By  Frank  R.  vStockton. 
Christie  Johnstone.    By  Charles  Reade. 

The  Chronicle  of  the  Schonberg-Cotta  Family.    By  iNlrs.  Charles. 
Cycling  for  Health  and  Pleasure.    By  Luther  R.  Porter. 

CHOSEN  STORIES 

Ten  capital  stories  for  boys  and  girls  issued  in  attractive  style, 
uniform  with  "  Favorite  Stories."  Ornamented  with  ink  and 
silver. 

The  set,  ten  vols.,   .  .  .  .  .  .  .         $5.00 

Daisy  Ward's  Work  The  Russell  Family 

Fred  Lawrence  Minnie  Carleton 

Lucy  Lee  Philip  Brantley's  Life  Work 

An  Orphan's  Triumphs  The  Deaf  Shoemaker 

Amy  Carr  Uncle  John's  Flower-Gatherers 


AMELIA  E,  BARR 

Each  one  vol.,  121110,  cloth,  .....         $1.25 

1.  Jan  Vedder's  Wife  15.  A  Sister  to  Esau 

2.  A  Daughter  of  Fife  16.  Love   for  an   Hour    is   Love 

3.  The  Botw  of  Orange  Ribbon  Forever 

4.  The  Squire  of  Sandal-side  17.  Christopher,       and       Other 

5.  A  Border  Shepherdess  Stories 

6.  Paul  and  Christina  18.  The  Hallam  Succession 

7.  Master  of  His  Fate  ig.  The  Lost  Silver  of  Briffault 

8.  Remember  the  Alamo  20.  Cluny  MacPherson 

g.  The  Lastof  the  MacallistO'rs  21.  A  Singer  from  the  Sea 

10.  Between  Two  Loves  22.  The  Lone  House 

11.  Feet  of  Clay  23.  Scottish  Sketches 

12.  The  Household  of  McNeil  24.  Bernicia 

13.  Friend  Olivia  25.  A  Knight  of  the  Nets 

14.  She  Loved  a  Sailor  26.  The  King's  Highway 

Mrs.  Barr  has  attained  a  popularity'  little  short  of  that  which 
was  achieved  by  E.  P.  Roe.  Her  best  novels  are  here  offered 
with  a  certainty  that  they  will  be  very  much  appreciated.  "  The 
Bow  of  Orange  Ribbon  "  presents  one  of  the  best  pictures  of  New 
York  Colonial  Life  in  the  period  just  preceding  the  Revolution 
that  is  to  be  found  in  current  literature. 


BIBLE  STEPS 

Bible  Steps  for  Little  Pilgrims.    With  numerous  illustrations. 
Small  4to,  cloth,  ......         $1.25 


HESBA  STRETTON 

In  sets,  boxed,  nine  vols.,  .....         $4.5o 

1.  "Bhe  King's  Servants. 

2.  Lost  Gip. 

3.  Cassy. 

4.  Max  Kromer-    A  Story  of  the  Siege  of  Strasburg. 

5.  Nelly's  Dark  Days. 

6.  Her  Only  Son,  and  Michel  Lorio's  Cross. 

7-  The  "Wonderful  Life.    A  Life  of  Christ  for  Young  and  Un- 

learned Readers. 

8-  Brought  Home.    A  Powerful  Temperance  Story. 
9.  The  Crew  of  the  Dolphin. 


POPULAR  STORIES 

The  following  stories  by  well-known  authors  have  thus  far  been 

issued  in  the  series  : 
In  sets,  boxed,  ten  vols.,  .....         $6.00 

1.  Morning  Clouds.    By  Mrs.  Stanley  Leathes. 

2.  Little  Boots.    By  Jennie  Harrison. 

3.  Marcella  of  Kome.    By  Frances  Eastwood. 

4.  The  Little  Brown  Girl.    By  Esme  Stuart. 

5.  The    Cumberstone   Contest-    By  the    author  of    "Battles 

Worth  Fighting." 

6.  Geoffrey  the  Lollard.    By  Frances  Eastwood. 

7.  The  Clifford  Household.    By  j.  F.  Moore. 

8.  The  Old  Back-Room.    By  Jennie  Harrison. 

9.  Captain  Christie's  Granddaughter.    By  Mrs.  Lamb. 
10-  Mists  of  the  Valley.    By  Agnes  Giberne. 

SELECTED   STORIES 

Ten  capital  stories  for  boys  and  girls,  in  attractive  binding,  uni- 
form with  "  Favorite  Stories  "  and  "Chosen  Stories." 
The  set,  boxed,  ten  vols.,  .....         I5.00 

Character  Sketches  Syrian  Home  Life 

Glenarvon  Geneva's  vShield 

The  Brewer's  Family  One  Year  at  Boarding  School 

The  Deserters  The  Kempstons 

Henry  Willard  Women  of  the  Arabs 

CHARLES  NORDHOFF 

Sailor  Life  Series-  W'ith  numerous  illustrations  by  William  H. 
Walker,  and  original  cover  design.  Each  one  vol.,  i2mo, 
cloth,        ........         $1.25 

In  sets,  boxed,  three  vols.,         .....  3.75 

1.  Man-of-War  Life  3.  Whaling  and  Fishing. 

2.  The  Merchant  Vessel 

A  record  of  personal  experience  ;  there  are  few  more  pleas- 
ing writers  for  the  young.  He  spent  years  of  his  life  on  the 
man-of-war,  the  merchant  vessel,  the  whaler,  and  knows  by 
personal  experience  every  scene  of  which  he  writes. 


FAVORITE   STORIES 

The  set,  ten  vols.,   .......        $5.00 

The  Finland  Family  Robert  the  Cabin  Boy 

The  Pastor  of  the  Desert  Peter  and  Polly 

A  Winter  in  Spitzbergen  Letters  from  Egypt 

A  Double  Story  For  Conscience'  Sake 

Agnes  Warrington's  Mistake  Sunlight  through  the  Mist. 

WILLIS  J.  ABBOT'S   BATTLEFIELD   SERIES 

A  complete  Military  History  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Fully 
illustrated  by  W.  C.  Jackson,  with  original  color  designs. 
Large  8vo,  cloth,  per  volume,  $2.00.    Three  volumes  in  a  box. 

Battlefields  of  '61.  Battlefields  and  Victory. 

Battlefields  and  Campfires. 

THE    HISTORY,   TRAVEL,   AND    ADVENTURE 
LIBRARY 

Large,  handsome  8vo  volumes,  most  of  them  profusely  illustrated, 
in  uniform  size,  but  bound  in  a  variety  of  designs  and  colors, 
per  vol.,     .  .  .....         $1.50 

1.  Ban  Away  from  the  Dutch. 

2.  The  Wild  Tribes  of  the  Soudan. 

3.  Mosby's  War  Eeminiscences. 

4.  Golden  Days  of  '49.    A  Tale  of  the  California  Diggings.   By 

KIRKE  MUNROE. 

5.  A  Fisher  Girl  of  France.    By  Ferdinand  Calmettes. 

6.  Wannetta  the  Sioux.    By  Warren  K.  Moorehead. 

7.  Dr.  Dod's  School.    By  James  L.  Ford. 

8.  Tunis.    The  Land  and  the  People.    By  the  CHEVALIER  DE 

Hesse- Wartegg. 

9.  Italy.    By  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 

10.  Russia.    By  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 

11.  Austria.    By  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 

12.  Prussia.    By  John  S.  C.  Abbott. 

13.  Turkey.    By  Edson  L.  Clark. 

14.  Eg3rpt.    By  J.  C.  McCoAN. 

15.  Germany.  By  S.  Baring-Gould. 


CHARLES   F.   HOLDER 

Yotmg  Folks'  Story  Book  of  Natural  History.    By  Charles  F. 
Holder.    Fully  illustrated.    Quarto,   .         ■  .  .        $1.50 

Mr.  Holder  is  the  author  of  many  successful  works  dealing 
with  natural  history,  and  he  is  to-day  perhaps  the  most  popular 
writer  on  this  branch  of  science  for  the  young.  The  illustrations 
are  characteristic,  and  planned  with  a  view  to  supplementing  the 
text.  The  work,  though  interesting  reading,  is,  nevertheless, 
very  instructive. 


THE  JUMBO  SERIES 

Very  large,  handsome,  octavo  volumes.  Very  fully  illustrated 
and  most  attractively  bound  in  full  cloth,  about  seven  hun- 
dred pages,         .......        $2.00 

Colonial  Days.    By  Richard  Markham. 

Heroes  of  Chivalry.  The  Life  of  Chevalier  Bayard,  and  Chronicle 
of  the  Cid. 

Sailor  Life  on  a  Man  of  War.    By  Charles  Nordhoff. 


HALF-HOUR  SERIES 

A  series  of  short  sketches,  profusely  illustrated,  at  a  very  mod- 
erate price,  and  may  be  safely  included  in  the  smallest 
library.    Each  one  vol.,  i6mo,  cloth,         .  .  .        $  .75 

The  set,  boxed,  four  vols.,  .....  3.00 

Half  Hours  in  the  Far  North        Half  Hours  in  the  Great  Deep 
Half  Hours  in  the  Tiny  World    Half  Hours  in  the  Far  East 


DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 
i5t  Fifth  Avenue  New  York  Gty 


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